--- Forwarded Message from "Waid, Alexander Ph.D." <[log in to unmask]> ---
>Disposition-Notification-To: "Waid, Alexander Ph.D." <[log in to unmask]>
>Subject: RE: #7850 Problems in learning a second language
>Date: Tue, 22 Mar 2005 15:56:35 -0500
>Thread-Topic: #7850 Problems in learning a second language
>Thread-Index: AcUvDyejqKwoaTNKSZ+oQ8Kn7GccqAADvj1A
>From: "Waid, Alexander Ph.D." <[log in to unmask]>
>To: "Language Learning and Technology International Information Forum"
<[log in to unmask]>
Wow! Sounds like you are doing a lot for this student. Remember that you are
not her/his tutor, though! They can find tutors if they want: and sometimes
having someone else explain the material in another way is all it takes for
things to click.
That said, how is s/he studying for the different components of the language?
For instance, what are they doing to memorize vocabulary: reading the book?;
writing out word lists?; using electronic flashcards?; making their own
flashcards?
Whatever they are doing, have them do it another way (same for verb forms).
More of the same usually isn't the answer, they're just doing things that are
ineffective (unless they're simply not doing the work, just telling you they
are).
Also, have this student take a learning preference test online and see how best
they learn (visual, aural...) and gear their exercises to that. Also, try to
isolate particular weaknesses (for instance, I've got a fellow who's just got a
TERRIBLE ear for the language and we do oral/aural drills once/week) and work at
those.
cheers,
alex
PS Make sure they know what all the verbs you've gone through mean as well as
knowing how to conjugate them: I've had students in the past that had that
problem, they could conjugate all day and night and didn't know what the verbs
meant! Language up & down is no good, they need to go left and right!
Alexander Waid, Ph.D.
Professor of Spanish
Department of Humanities
United States Coast Guard Academy (dh)
Department of Humanities
27 Mohegan Avenue
New London, CT 06320-4195
860-701-6866
-----Original Message-----
From: Language Learning and Technology International Information Forum
[mailto:[log in to unmask]]On Behalf Of LLTI-Editor
Sent: Tuesday, March 22, 2005 1:44 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: #7850 Problems in learning a second language
--- Forwarded Message from "Emma Fernandez" <[log in to unmask]> ---
>Reply-To: [log in to unmask]
>Date: Mon, 21 Mar 2005 21:15:41 -0600
>From: "Emma Fernandez" <[log in to unmask]>
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: Problems in learning a second language
Thank you for responding my previous question on evaluating a
second language acquisition. Your responses were pretty useful.
Now, I have another question to pose. I hope someone can also
help me this time.
One of my students has never studied a second language before.
She is not the only one in the class who never before struggled
with the difficulties of learning another language but she,
definitely, have much more problems than the rest. I have never
seen anything like that before. I know she studies. She also
visits me during my office hours every week but still it seems
to be very, very, very difficult for her.
I have tried to simplify things for her. Offering my time,
asking her for special homework, printing her alternative
materials, and preparing different tests but I do not know what
else to do. It is impossible for her to follow the course. If at
the end of the semester I fail her it would not be fair and if I
decide to examine her differently I feel like I am not being
fair with other students.
Any suggestions?,
Emma Fern$E1ndez
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