Literacy
I am starting a new project, tutoring for literacy. It's an exercise in bravery, for me. Something entirely new, using that coursework toward a theater degree all those years ago, finally. Improv, acting, elocution. I thought about The King's Speech, his tutor was a good old failed actor as well. Well, I failed more surely, with only one real speaking part in one play the whole seven semesters. (It was a Scottish play, but not THE Scottish Play, and I think I would be horrified today if I could hear my accent then.)
Did six hours of training today, six more next week, and two class observations over the next few weeks. I'll be tutoring one on one, or a small class, of adult immigrants or refugees who for whatever reason cannot attend formal ESL classes. It's a 3-5 hour per week commitment, including prep and transit time, an hour or two of actual tutoring. Off to the library, or an established classroom.
Going to be looking for good photos to stash in a folder, and use to point to. Stories, strong images, relevant photos. The sight of workbook drawings and stilted, often outdated, illustrations made me feel a bit nauseated. I like working from real, one of my difficulties in my own learning. I have a hard time doing pretend exercises, when the actual is barreling down on me. So, I will try to bring in real things to handle, actual photos to illustrate. Gods bless the internet, I intend to use it extensively.
Oh, maybe that's what I can use that old wiki for, an online resource. I shall have to ponder this. At the moment, my brain is a bit full, which is why I'm spilling out here. Wasn't going to write about it openly here, but I guess I am now. I will not mention it at work, ever. Under the principle of good works being something for the right hand to know, and the left hand left oblivious.
So, ahem. NO praise to me for this, ok? Encouragement, resources, jokes, sure. I will delete any comment telling me "atta girl!" or anything like it. Just don't go there. I'm doing this for reasons obscure even to myself, but 'thanks' is definitely not one of them. Not even sure I'll be any damn good at it, but that's part of why I am giving it a go. Eventually there will be stories, with the individual disguised completely. As much care of their privacy as my patients get.
Scares the crap out of me, honestly. In a good way.
Did six hours of training today, six more next week, and two class observations over the next few weeks. I'll be tutoring one on one, or a small class, of adult immigrants or refugees who for whatever reason cannot attend formal ESL classes. It's a 3-5 hour per week commitment, including prep and transit time, an hour or two of actual tutoring. Off to the library, or an established classroom.
Going to be looking for good photos to stash in a folder, and use to point to. Stories, strong images, relevant photos. The sight of workbook drawings and stilted, often outdated, illustrations made me feel a bit nauseated. I like working from real, one of my difficulties in my own learning. I have a hard time doing pretend exercises, when the actual is barreling down on me. So, I will try to bring in real things to handle, actual photos to illustrate. Gods bless the internet, I intend to use it extensively.
Oh, maybe that's what I can use that old wiki for, an online resource. I shall have to ponder this. At the moment, my brain is a bit full, which is why I'm spilling out here. Wasn't going to write about it openly here, but I guess I am now. I will not mention it at work, ever. Under the principle of good works being something for the right hand to know, and the left hand left oblivious.
So, ahem. NO praise to me for this, ok? Encouragement, resources, jokes, sure. I will delete any comment telling me "atta girl!" or anything like it. Just don't go there. I'm doing this for reasons obscure even to myself, but 'thanks' is definitely not one of them. Not even sure I'll be any damn good at it, but that's part of why I am giving it a go. Eventually there will be stories, with the individual disguised completely. As much care of their privacy as my patients get.
Scares the crap out of me, honestly. In a good way.
Posted by Zhoen on Saturday, April 16, 2011
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