Bob TS#1

Date/Time: 27-Jan-2017 / 8:10 PM

Location: Skype

Evaluation and Goal Setting Session

My 2T lives in Seoul, South Korea but tonight he was with his parents in Busan celebrating the New Year. There are certain tribulations associated with tutoring across a 14 hour time difference, I must say, and tonight we encountered some of them. However, our hearts were pure and our fortitude that of ten men! From  7 PM onward we remained valiant in our effort until we finally made the connection at 8:10 PM. Quae est Patientia!

I think my guy weighs in at somewhere in the range of Advanced Elementary to Low Intermediate - about a 12 - in listening and speaking. I don't have enough run time to know for sure but using the info on the chart distributed in class (photocopied from pg 30 of somewhere is the best I can do as a source reference) and the following types of evaluative questions and conversational parlays:

"What do you want me to call you?" created some confusion that was cleared up by "How would you like to be called?."

"It's New Year, are you going to go out and party?" It turns out that it's a time to spend quietly with family! Cultural moment? Yes, but I think the critical point is that he recognized from the question in English that I had the wrong concept of the holiday and was able to correct me using the vocabulary and grammar that he already commanded.

We really didn't press the vocabulary envelope. It seemed at least adequate for social situations, daily navigation & chores about town, etc.

He is a young  professional employed by a regional carrier airline. His question to me when he was explaining that he worked for an airline: "Do you know 'regional carrier?'" and a few other statements indicate he is better versed in his industry jargon than other vocabulary. More exposure and use.

If this evaluation seems a little bit slipshod, well.., it's because I'm figuring it out as I go along. Feel free to check back when I'm confident about what I'm doing!

His stated goal is to improve his English listening skills and vocabulary to advance in his job. After some further discussion it was discovered that, by the way, girls in his part of the world are fond of English speaking men. It's good to have a motivated learner.

He's a pleasant lad and seems to have a sense of humor.

Here's my plan so far: (If anybody actually reads this stuff, feel free to jump in with some ideas or some adult supervision! Lord knows what this is gonna do for international relations!)

1)  Develop and present a series of listening exercises.
2)  Try not to further destabilize political relations with our allies across the Pacific.

Fear not for Conan the Tutorian has the watch!

Seriously though, if you stumble on this and have any ideas or concrete recommendations, step right up, there's a comment section down below there. It don't cost nuthin' to use. Help me figure out how to help this young brother get to where he wants to go.