Posted 25 July 2009 - 10:09 AM
I just want to tell you a little about my BG before I go into suggestions, so you know where I'm coming from.
I was tutoring two boys from Korea last summer in Vancouver.
They were with a 'Guardian' of some sort-- their parents have businesses so they were sent over with their guardian during school holiday for tutoring.
The elder brother [13?] had some workbooks and homework that were assigned by teachers back home, not necessarily English. Some of it was Chemistry. His level was high enough where we could work off that book and give us summaries in English. He also had a Han/Yong vocabulary book that we worked off of, which was pretty handy. It had enough explanation of the word in both languages to get a good grasp on how to explain it to him if he really didn't get it.
The younger brother [11ish] had some English workbooks similar to those you can purchase at a Teacher supply or book store-- a short passage and fill-in the blank answers: usually vocabulary matching with pictures or word association. Sometimes there were things we would have to act out, he was totally not into that. So we adjusted.
The guardian told us XYZ but he was lazy, and for the most part he ignored everything I said. I kept pretty meticulous notes on the progress of both boys.
It was a friend and I that would tutor them and we'd switch off on grammar and vocab. He wasn't really taking care to see their progress.
He was being paid either way. Supposedly he was a published author but that was hard to believe with his English level and the way he glazed over the progress notes.
Also for whatever reason the boys really liked the TV series '24' and we watched a few episodes with them and had them give us a summary.
We also explained a few cultural things because their view of American/Western women is completely warped, due to only seeing them on TV.
We also had field trips. We went to Whistler-- where they'll host the 2010 Olympics and went Ziplining. In Vancouver we went to parks, tons of restaurants, shopping, saw Cirque Du Soleil [the Guardian paid for field trips], the Science Museum [which was fun for everyone].
Bottom line:
Language is a mix of the culture as well as all the fine details like grammar. I personally believe people can't really learn a language without getting the culture too, it's like how not everything can translate literally. You can't use a dictionary for every situation you're in. Context clues aren't always read between the lines.
SO
I am assuming the parents are there with those girls.
With that in mind, get them involved. This may be hard to do.
Tell them if they really desire for their children to really grasp the language, they need to learn with them and help them along the way.
90% of the time if it's a young student that the parent wants to get tutored: the parents have a very elementary level of English and half the time they can't properly communicate with you.
I remember almost tutoring two young girls, sisters. The daughters corrected their parents' English. They were sent to England for a year. I honestly didn't know why they needed a tutor. They were about 7 and 10 and reading well beyond an elementary level and spoke without stressing over every word they were thinking of.
That was IN Korea.
IDEAS:
The suggestion for picture books is brilliant. [Ping? Goodnight Moon? Dr. Seuss?]
If you discover along the way that it's too easy for them you can always level up.
Later you could read Bernstien Bears
and if they improve a whole lot [and they like dolls] maybe you can do some 'American Girl.'
You should try to ask what they like.
Pretty easy question, I'm sure they'll have some vocab to convey that.
If they like ice cream, maybe near the end of tutoring when the vocab and conversational skills builds up,
you can get together and make sundaes or bbingsu but How-to.
If you don't already know how to make bbingsu, it'll be nice for the girls because they can teach Teacher something.
It might be a really great confidence boost =)
BC From what I am gleaning,
it seems they are low level AND their parents are sending them over for immersion so maybe they're also shy? This may be their first trip out?
Honestly, Libraries don't sound bad.
But I'm guessing that the parents want them there for hours, knee-deep in books?
Yea, that wouldn't be very nice to do to a 7 year old girl, from our point of view.
Maybe if you have a really huge Library near downtown?
For example, there was a very nice Library in downtown San Antonio and there are tons of interesting buildings near it, like the School of Art & Craft. It could be a really nice field trip. Library + surrounding area. Maybe you could devise a kind of eye-spy game. =)
Also [this may appease the parents] any cool museums near you? Modern Art, Childrens', Dolls?
There's a Teddy Bear Museum in Korea. See? Super interesting.
That science museum we went to in Vancouver was SUPER kid friendly and with enough humor on the placards to keep adults thoroughly amused.
In Houston some of our Museums have days of free admission, so it'll also save some cash for you.
speaking of cash:
Think about your expenses and round up. For example, if you do take the girls out somewhere-- travel and snack expenses. Take into account how many hours out of how many days of the week you will be with these girls. Do you have credit cards to pay off, need gas money, perhaps you need to buy groceries every week-- how much do you usually spend on that, do you splurge on nice cheese? etc.
It will be easier for them to learn if they are interested.
Of course, don't cater to them too much where they get spoiled.
Check if they are there willingly.
A lot of times when tutoring, I would imagine ESPECIALLY in overseas cases, the kids are there out of filial duty and not desire.
I also was in an English immersion program in Korea during college. We were like peer-tutors and immersed ourselves in Korean language and culture while sharing our culture. More than half were there because their parents signed them up for it. We had one-on-one conversational exchanges as well as groups we were in charge of to prepare for festivals, hang out, and help with their English.
Most individual exchanges dropped out of sight.
Encouragement and compassion are important ESPECIALLY since they are young and are at a very elementary level of English right now.
). Oh, and how long do you guys usually keep your sessions? I'm only spending one hour a day with the 11 year old, which I'm afraid won't be enough...
Maybe you can get a workbook or something. Maybe have them read a book and have different writing subjects. Maybe get some words from the stories they were reading and have a vocabulary test. Have them write down sentences you read out loud... I guess just try to call back on all the things you've been taught in the past and what worked for you. 
