Not sure where this should be posted...
 

Hi everyone,

I'm new around here. I don't exactly know the best place to ask this question, so I'll just put it here and hope that someone can direct me to the right area.

I'll be honest, I'm new to teaching English to Spanish-speakers. My soon to be student only needs conversational English. I know that little by little, they will learn to read and write it.

I guess my question is, what is the best way to go about teaching conversational English?

I have given an evaluation (of sorts), and have determined they know their numbers, some animals and other vocabulary and a couple of questions.

If anyone has any ideas, please feel free to share them. I would greatly appreciate it!

Thanks so much
A nervous newbie

Re: Not sure where this should be posted...
 

How old is your student?

Re: Not sure where this should be posted...
 

and yes, hello, and welcome to the site :)

Re: Not sure where this should be posted...
 

Hi,

Thanks for the welcome.

My student is 25 years old. He has very good pronunciation when he mimics me.

Re: Not sure where this should be posted...
 

Tailor your material for your student.

Ask your student to name five topics that he wants to learn more about, find and/or create a list of questions, idioms, and a short reading on those topics. You might also assign him to listen to podcasts from Voice of America, the BBC, or public radio.

Finally, take notes during class of his "good mistakes" and incorporate those "good mistakes" into future lessons.

Re: Not sure where this should be posted...
 

Thanks for the input, Eric.

I like the topic idea but, I may have to fore-go the reading until I can teach him to read English.

Beatrix, I forgot to add one other note; he has a good memory and seems to retain small things that I have mentioned to him.

Classes are to be 1hr long, 1 - 2 times per week (this will vary depending on how well he does)

He already listens to American music and constantly asks me what this or that means