Kennell_TP_8

TP Session 8 – 2/7/2015

                On Saturday, I met again with Ali. Ali had, instead of Dhawi, brought along his friend Khalid. Khalid was not as worried about the IETLS as Ali was, but more focused on simply becoming more conversational in English. I had brought a large amount of information related to the IETLS, and we discussed the makeup of the test, and strategies for dealing with it. The conversation shifted though, towards ways simply to increase vocabulary and conversational fluency. The pair, especially Khalid, felt that he they were not getting enough practice in conversation. Though they admitted that they could definitely spend more time speaking English to each other at home, they also emphasized that they felt that there were too many Arabic-speakers at FSU and that they were getting the immersion experience they were hoping for. I suggested that they begin listening to podcasts or radio shows, and watching English-language movies. They left seeming much more upbeat, but I still worry that they won’t push themselves into that ‘language-learning place’ that they need to be.