Speaking Partner Experience # 12

I met with Ismenia today for the final time this semester and I told Ismenia that I would miss her, as this is our last session and she said the seasons just flies away. Ismenia said she is trying to catch up on her assignments so they are done on time. Ismenia asked if I am in English or Math and I said I am doing Math next semester and not looking forward to it. Ismenia said it will be good because I am already learning things now that will help me in Math.

For Lesson 12, we started off by discussing conversation fillers, asking for and thanking help, apologizing, and Ismenia did very well pronouncing them, so I told Ismenia that her English is so good and she said I was so kind. We then discussed questions concerning the conversation fillers. Ismenia said she is comfortable with the phrases used to express gratitude and ask for help. In terms of expressing thanks to someone in English, Ismenia said that when she sent an email to her instructor asking for help in taking an exam she missed, he opened it and Ismenia thanked him and appreciation for his help and he said it was his pleasure. Ismenia asked about the difference in feelings when I say sorry as opposed to 'I am very sorry' and I said it depended on the problem.

We then moved on to consonant clusters and then worked on practicing consonant clusters. During that time, I had to explain the meaning of some of the words, but I didn't mind at all because explaining the meaning of things to those who don't understand it is part of teaching. After that, we took turns asking each other questions using the clusters. It was a good way to practice.

Ismenia told me a story about how she was in the library one day in the States and she saw a woman come to the library. As she was sitting there, she saw a small yellow snake come out of the woman's purse and it scared her; she wondered if the snake was going to kill her and she was scared. Ismenia said she doesn't have the courage to take care of a snake even though I explained some are harmless.

We then moved on to pronunciation of numbers and equations to conclude the lesson. When Ismenia had a problem with a number, I pronounced it properly and then made her repeat it, telling her that the only way she was going to learn was for me to make her pronounce it properly.

Ismenia explained that she was appreciative of all the time that I could spend with her helping her with her work. She said that she hoped that we could be speaking partners again next semester, but she didn't know how it would work on my end. I am a little sad to be done the Speaking Partner part of this semester, but it has been an invaluable experience nonetheless.