English Advice for mother trying to help child

gaeilgegrinds1

My neighbour is a lovely woman. Latvian and on her own with two children. The youngest has taken to Ireland like a suck to water and is always out kicking ball with the other lads on our street. The older girl is very withdrawn. Her mother asked me advice on how best to help her improve her English. The daughter seems well able and will do what is asked of her but that is it. I was suggesting reading to start with. Is there anywhere online she could find some reading material, she is almost 14? I'd help only I don't have the time but have given her any books suitable.

looksee

I don't know the full story of course, but it sounds to me as though this child needs more than English lessons. Yes she could get converstional English and read books, but why is she withdrawn (thats a rhetorical question). Is she ok at school, has she made any friends? Once she starts mixing with other children, provided they are supportive rather than bullying, her English will improve.

Odats

Some of the citizens advice centre's do reading and writing courses and English classes (well the centre in Waterford does them with maths etc) so you could contact them and they would put you in the right place and the majority are at night. Would help her with spoken and written English.

Miss Dymph

I teach English at basic and advanced levels to those for whom English isnt a first language, im only 23 so the girl might appreciate someone young helping her out in a fun way and i could bring her some info about fun things to do and places to make friends.

gaeilgegrinds1

She won't accept lessons for free off a tutor so unless help is free she is not interested. She is totally isolated in school but I think it's a vicious circle in that once she is accepted she will speak more but she won't be accepted until she does speak.

Miss Dymph

School is vicious in that it can be your best years or your worst. Perhaps her mum could visit the school and ask the teachers to help, im sure they can arrange a bonding group or a fun activity to group the students together. Perhaps a cultural day where this girl can show some of her belongings and memories from her country, like a learning day where she teaches simple words for things and in turn the Irish students can do the same, it will give everyone a chance to be teacher and to learn from each other. The teachers will have suitable reading material and simple conversational English assignments for her. I dont mind offering my help for free, i cant bear to see people out of their depth and unhappy, especially adapting to a new culture at the same time.

spurious

What I suggested to a friend of mine was to get a book and the audio version of it - read by the author is always good - and follow the words while it is being read.
Many people from 'Eastern' Europe are terribly self-critical - if they feel they are not pronouncing something correctly, they won't try, even though they very often have very good English.
The double-vowel sounds give them particular difficulty.

Agent_99

is there no Latvian support with in the community a friend of mine does Latvian Dancing group in Limerick. Might be worth trying to get some help within her own community first to build her confidence and encourage her to be more outgoing then work on the language side of things.

gaeilgegrinds1

I kind of see parallels here between the Irish who went abroad working , more parents age were kids at the time and they were good and obedient and stayed at home while the parents worked every job they could. This poor woman never stops working. I've asked her to, 'help,' me a bit about the house and I'll talk to her then. She dotes on my little fella and hopefully we'll get her talking a bit. Her mother would love her to join every group under the sun but as she is out working her daughter minds the little fella. As for them being critical on themselves, had to laugh today, she said the house was filthy, I'd have eaten off the floor! Fingers crossed she gets on better this year in school.