C. Family

1. Brainstorm

Learners can discuss their families, and feelings about their families, in various ways, disclosing as little or as much as is comfortable. For some learners, circumstances leading to immigration to Canada, or previous negative experiences with family members may make this a difficult topic to pursue. Alice Li (in "Cultural Awareness Activities") suggests that as an alternative, if discussions about family are difficult, to look at cultural views of child raising: How are boys and girls raised in Canada? In learners' home countries?

* One way to begin might be to write the word "family" on the blackboard or flip chart, and invite learners to contribute whatever ideas come to mind. These contributions could include both single word and/or longer contributions. For example:

2. Making a grid

Another approach to working with people whose literacy skills are at the beginning level is to create a grid where learners can complete basic information. Such a grid is one way to move from discussion to reading and writing.

* Make the blank grid on the blackboard, or on a large piece of paper which can later be hung on the wall.

* Once the format for the grid has been established, most learners can write in the information about themselves, or take turns asking one another for information and writing it in.

The tutor should also add her own information to the grid.