[jellybeanenglisch]

I was asked whether I would teach a family (parents and a son, age 9). My spontaneous reaction was "yes, why not" but then again how would I create a lesson that interests both adults and child AND takes into consideration that the boy has no knowledge of English (parents are high beginners, I think)
do you all think it is possible at all and if so, how?

[mesmark]

Are you supposed to teach them at the same time? If, so I'd say teach the child and also try to show the parents how to teach. Teaching in an excellent way to learn.

[Marisal]

If you have the option of selecting the amount of time you will be teaching, I suggest starting with the three of them together to introduce a general theme and target vocabulary. Then prepare independent activities targeting vocabulary for the child and conversation for the parents OR spend one hour with the child and one hour with the parents. Good luck!

[susan53]

I agree with Mark - teach to the child, playing lots of games which involve the parents too. But the important thing is that the parents understand what you're doing and why - they can adapt to a methodology aimed at a child (and learn some games and activities that they can go on doing between lessons for reinforcement). But if you ask the child to adapt to a methodology for adults, he'll just get bored and demotivated. So if they want family lessons, it has to be with that provviso.

[xerxes99]

I do a family lesson as well. The Father is quite high level,but the Mother and the college age kids are much lower. Generally, I do a lesson for just the father first, and a group lesson for all them, geared at the lower level. the Father is involved, but he realizes everything will be aimed at that lower level. It works pretty well.