English as a Second Language

[grandmoon]

I am trying to help the parents of a refugee family with their English.  The little boy is learning at a great rate while the father is trying hard but the mother is having great difficult.

I am needing help with the names of books that will help them.

Does anyone have any ideas please.

[azureline**]

Any books will be useful, maybe get the child and the mum to read together? then I would use newspapers and magazines.

[**meep**]

Are they currently enrolled in any courses?

If not,  you could get some info from here:

http://www.refugeecouncil.org.au/f/svr-lang.php

Apart from recommending them books, the best thing would be to try converse in English as much as you can.  

[lyndal1838]

If you are trying to help them with reading as well as speaking I would be looking at the first reading books from the school system.

You may be able to borrow them from the library.

[katydidthat]

I agree with Az ... use age appropriate books for the child and get the mother and child to read those together.

Also, find out what the mother is interested in ... Woman's Day?  Shakespeare? Short stories? History? Law? Science?  

Go to the library together and check out what they have ... 

Use dvds and videos as well.

Check the internet ... there are awesome learning materials out there.  

[buzzlightyearsgirlfriend]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/skillswise/english

[grandmoon]

Are they currently enrolled in any courses?

If not,  you could get some info from here:

http://www.refugeecouncil.org.au/f/svr-lang.php

Apart from recommending them books, the best thing would be to try converse in English as much as you can.  

The father has finished his allotted hour of free lessons and the mother is in the middle of hers.  The father is prepared to speak English while the mother is more reluctant because she feels that  her English isn't understandable.

[cherry*135]

As refugee's they would be eligible for some free ESOL lessons? Have they taken part in those already? 

If not, and they are available, might be a good idea for the adults to do those as well (where the teachers of these classes are trained to teach classes for ESOL).The help you can give them would be a good complement to these classes.

[cherry*135]

Didn't see your post, before I posted my last one GM.

Speaking generally, often the mothers moved to a new country don't do so well learning a new language. Children are quick to pick up new languages, they also have a lot of contact via school with others speaking the language. Fathers mostly need to learn it, for work. Mothers can sometimes rely on their child or OH to do the  speaking in English if they are out and about together. As the Mum may not be working, she is less likely to be spending a lot of time with others who speak English.

I have met quite a few immigrant & refugee families in the past where mother mostly only speaks her original language but the rest of the family speak English well. Maybe things have changed more recently.

[katydidthat]

Check TAFEs and community colleges for formal courses.  Also, check tutors available locally if they have the money to pay.  Contact Centrelink for entitlements.