Interactive ESL site on CFL???

[Trigg]

My wife recently became a candle member because she thinks she can learn to read ad write English easier if she just does it. We've been talking about trying to put together a candle forum-mostly for the Chinese SO's to help them learn to read, write, and speak English. Of course we would need to stay away from it most of the time. I'm thinking a couple of Mods who speak and write Chinese and English. My wife doesn't know how to put Chinese Characters through the keyboard but she would certainly benefit from writing and reading English and having people tell her the meaning of words even if they have to translate in Chinese.

 

Several of the 'old timers' (those with their SO's in the states) have been looking for new ways to help their Wives learn English. This looks like a great opportunity to not only teach them English without needing to drive them someplace or spend money but also to get them involved in Candle and in meeting other Chinese.

 

whatch'all think??

[LeeFisher3]

I think it would be GREAT. My SO isn't quite here yet, but I am sure she would be interested.

 

Not sure how it would work, I'd imagine we would need to have a private forum for them.

[frank1538]

Great idea. Let's do it.

[tonado]

Go for it. Make her day.

[david_dawei]

very nice idea.. oh yea, it was her idea...

[jim_julian]

Actually ....

 

not sure why we shouldn't be here frequently. My lao po writes very sweet short e-mails in English and I reply ... sentence by sentence ... as to how an American might write this thought. She's getting better. Some are now "that's how I would say it!"

 

Chinese ladies are very practical. Maybe some gentle correction in the proposed channel would be helpful.

 

Thoughts???

[HanLi]

I think it is a super idea!! Don, turn loose the forum hounds!! Make it happen and see what happens.......

[Jason+Joanna]

Why not use the current Chinese form, it allows posts in English. I think it could use more visitors to jump start things....

[Trigg]

How about we rename it Chinese & ESL Forum?

142593[/snapback]

Good idea. Now, how to get this thing going and who has time to help translate/teach etc????

[critter]

My wife is not here yet either but I think it is a great idea,

I would like for my wife to learn more English and maybe it

could help our son learn more too, he will be starting college

here and I am worried about his languish skills

[finenn]

Ok well good time to get my wife on here on the chinese forum, and type english as well as chinese. Good idea Trigg, I'll try and make it happen. BTW, are you starting to use a spell checker or somethin?

 

Jeff

[Trigg]

NO!!!!! but sometimes i proof read now.

 

Let me know whatnyou need to get this thing off the road--maybe we can start with designated times or something??

[finenn]

Sure we could do times, well I'm going to get her on tonight (99% sure) and get her to post in the chinese forum, her candle name is wenxi, we'll see how it goes,

[Dan R]

Wasn't there talk about this earlier today? Boy you guys sure can move when the moof hits you.

 

This is a great idea. As an ESL teacher for several years, I can tell you the less Chinese language help the better. That is the teaching theory of ESL as opposed to Bilingual Education that mixes first and second languages. In my experience with both ESL works at least twice as fast for learning language. The idea is that as children we learn from mimicing not translating. Once a person stops seeing a translation dictionary or black board in their head and can think in the second language they have learned the language. The biggest success sign is when you dream in the new language.

 

Perhaps the Chinese forum is useful as a language class but I would think a neutral zone just for ESL titled in Chinese first/ESL would be less likely to confuse the purpose. Posts can be left asking for help and members can help using quote and a correction or an explanation. More than one would be helpful as different ways to say the same thing are possible. Also some ways may be understood easier by the SO.

 

The reason for explaining words and usage in English rather than Chinese is that it helps implant the usage and language. I used Longman's English Dictionary in classes and strongly recommend it. It uses limited vocabulary in the definitions and is designed for ESL students. I use it myself. If the level of English is minimal Longman has a picture dictionary that teaches basic vocabulary for many types of activities.

 

However this is done I hope it is well used and furthers the value of CFL as a long term support tool.

[Dan R]

Who was it that decided against post spell checker? If we are going to help our SOs with English could we get a "t" in the title between "c" & "i" in interacive