Session 1: Understanding the Context

The objectives of this session are:

  • To introduce the tutor trainees to the program
  • To examine tutor trainee reasons for participating and the qualities that will make them effective tutors
  • To familiarize tutor trainees with the adult ESL learner
  • To discuss factors that may affect the adult ESL learner
  • To introduce general strategies to help motivate the adult ESL learner

Overview of the Program/Session

Make the environment as comfortable as possible. Ensure that people are sitting close to each other and not at the back of the room.

graphic of an overhead projector 50 minutes
  • Show any overheads that are pertinent to your program, i.e. a list of expectations, a job description, etc.
  • Show overhead, An Overview of the Tutor Training Program.
  • Show overhead, An Overview of Session 1.
  • Icebreaker Activity: You can do your own activity or try one of the following exercises below.

Icebreaker Option 1

Divide the room into pairs and have the participants interview a partner to get the following information:

  • Name
  • Where she is from
  • Occupation
  • Places traveled and an interesting cultural fact about that place
  • Places she would like to travel
  • Reasons why she wants to be a tutor
  • Something unusual

When the entire group rejoins, ask each participant to introduce her partner to the group.

  • Introduce yourself last. Take a moment to reiterate the reasons the participants stated for becoming tutors and add some more general ideas of your own.
  • Highlight other reasons for tutoring as noted in the manual. 50 minutes