Ask Micki: My tutee is really bored

Question: Hi, Micki, I need some help with something. 

My tutee is a great kid, she's in grade 6, and really tries hard to get involved in every one of our tutoring sessions. 

The problem is, I can tell that she's really bored.  I am tutoring her in very beginning ESL.  She just moved here from Europe. 

Any ideas for how to make things more exciting for her?

Thanks,
Janie in Salt Lake City, Utah

Answer: Hi, Janie! Thanks for your question. 

I can guarantee that you're going to like my answer!

The short answer is - you have one of the best tutoring subjects when it comes to making things more exciting for your tutee!  ESL lends itself to all sort of worksheets and games that are both educational, and a blast to complete. 

By implementing a few of these fun ideas, your tutee will be able to master the English language without having to muscle through a boring tutoring session.

One idea is to role play.  Now, I know that this isn't the traditional tutoring arrangement with seating, but ESL is a different kind of subject that allows for a bit more flexibility when it comes to the physical dynamic of the session.

Get up for about 5 minutes, and act out a scenario with your tutee.  Maybe she can be buying a train ticket, shopping for groceries, making a phone call, asking questions at a pet store, or making polite conversation with a stranger.  You get the idea - make it a fun learning scenario that focuses on the vocabulary and grammar that you are currently working on together. 

Add even more zest by bringing some props.  I try to have, in my tutoring bag, at least a few props to help out with the visualization portion of the ESL tutoring session. 

Believe it or not, I have some plastic fruit (grocery shopping scenario), some fake tickets (movie passes, train ticket, plane ticket, etc.), play money, etc.  These all come in handy for ESL role playing scenarios, so if ESL is your primary tutoring market, by all means put together a little collection of learning aids.

You may also want to put together some fun activity sheets for your ESL tutee.  Simple crossword puzzles, word searches, and word games can all breathe life into tired tutoring sessions. 

Even better, leave a few of these games as "homework" for your tutee.  She will get some practice, and have fun at the same time!

Good luck, have fun, and happy tutoring!