Speaking Partner Experience # 10

I met with Ismenia today and did the following:
-Chronological order 'R' pronunciations.
Ismenia had difficulties, but we worked through them.

Discussion Questions
Ismenia said the words were important because when you are explaining things to someone, you need to put one phrase with another so they can understand it. I explained to Ismenia that you cannot explain to someone else how to do something without using the words because the words are used to explain steps in a process. Ismenia then got to explain how to add 358 and 89 using the words and see how many times the words are used. Since we've worked on math problems in our past discussions and I've taught her how to do problems properly, she really did a good job. She then had to explain how to create an Excel document without showing the screen using the same words as before in her explanation. She drew a picture of the spreadsheet and explained it to me using her words and she really did a wonderful job in showing me how much she has learned. Then, Ismenia explained how she celebrates Christmas with her family and that she celebrates with her sisters, their families, her mother, and her nephews by having a dinner containing interesting cultural foods and a prayer before hand. Every year, someone is chosen to say a prayer and then they eat and drink, but do not include alcohol. After the dinner, they open gifts and most of the time, the gifts are for kids and not for adults. They then count to midnight and celebrate Happy Christmas. Everyone has come to Ismenia's house in the past because her house was big, but she doesn't know where they will go this year because they live in an apartment; they will have to go somewhere else. I got to explain a bit about my Christmas and how I like to go to a religious service on Christmas Eve sometimes to learn about Jesus's birth or watch Mass on TV. I then explained Christmas Day was opening presents, breakfast, and for two years, I volunteered at a community dinner before going home to eat with my family. I have not, however, done the volunteering since 2014 and I will find something new to do for Christmas now.

I then listened to Ismenia practice pronouncing years, dollar amounts, math equations, numerical values, and the English pronunciation of the 'R' word. I had to explain to Ismenia about 'rat race' as being people always being busy, a rifle range being a field of land of shooting, rave as being positive, culturally rich as being full of cultural artifacts, food, or information, and retail as selling many goods. We then discussed countries and cities that have the R word that we want to visit.

Ismenia said she has to do the last exam because she is afraid, but I told her she will do well and that her English and Math is so much better. I also said I wanted to hear about the text next week,