Serena TS#1

Date/Time: August 30th 7:30-8:30am
Location: Skype
Topic/Skill: Basic conversation
Feedback provided to tutee: Throughout the conversation I taught him some vocabulary such as the verb "to lag" and defined "civilian contractor." I refrained from correcting him without him asking in this first conversation because I wanted to use this first session to allow him to develop a level of comfort and confidence with me.
Lesson(s) about tutoring and/or the tutee you learned: Today the focus of the session was to build rapport and set expectations for future tutoring sessions. We learned about each other and our backgrounds. He told me about his job with one of the Korean airline companies. He explained that he wants to improve his English because the company he works for has divisions in America and Guam. Improving his English will help him in his profession but also in giving him ease for traveling abroad in the future.
His goals are to improve his speaking and listening skills. By the end of the tutoring session we established that future sessions will revolve around conversations to learn about one another's culture. These conversations will then be utilized as teaching tools to help improve his vocabulary and also will give me an opportunity to correct his grammar. He speaks well, though he pauses for longer periods of time trying to think of the right words to use. Also when I am speaking there are definitely points where I don't think he fully has understood what I said, though he may just smile and agree anyways. The biggest challenge that I know we will face is the time lag and accidental talking over one another due to our conversations being over Skype. Regardless I am very excited to work with Dojun because he is very motivated and enthusiastic.