My partner and I, like other groups, decided that instead of learning endless lists of vocabulary words through a series of sh-raids and looking up every word in the dictionary the funniest, fastest, and easiest way to learn English was to go on field trips to other places so our family can see the things we were trying to talk about. Our first trip was planned for Monday 28 to the beach. Unfortunately, mother nature had other plans, namely in 25mph winds and a chilling temperature. Luckily, we had a plan B. I tested out my proto-lesson plan on seasons of the year and descriptive words for the weather as well as going over the beach vocab worksheet we were going to do at the beach. The lesson worksheets seemed like a hit. My refugee family now has a reference in which they could keep track of their vocabulary words and they had fun learning them.
What I’m worried about is the young mother in my family. She can’t speak any English and she currently is not allowing my partner and I to help her because she is embarrassed. She is the only woman in the family and, on top of that, she is pregnant. With a due date approaching fast I’m concern she wouldn’t learn the basic me will need to go to doctor’s appointment for her baby. I don’t know how to talk to her about giving birth to a baby in America or how to describe the options of a mid-wife or hospital birth. She has a 3 year old already, but things are different here. Next visit, we are all going to the zoo to learn the animals’ names and how to read a map. I hope the mother comes with us. I think it might be a safer environment to ask question and it interact with her. I guess I will see. Later.

Last time Caitlin and I visited our new family we brought them milk and cookies. We wanted to take a break from ESL because none of the family members are eligible for ESL lessons yet. We took this time to talk and get to know our family. I think that was very beneficial. However, after the milk and cookies our family was eager to learn! We went over a few basic household items but the women in our family seemed lost and frustrated. Caitlin and I did not want to discourage them from learning English so we decided to go for a walk. As we walked out of their apartment and down the street to the lake the questions started flowing. What’s this? Who’s that? What are these? It started out as a simple walk to get away from English and just talk with one another. However it turned into a two hour English lesson. We found that our family asked more questions, seemed less frustrated and more eager to learn when we were outside. We talked about in class how many of these cultures love the outdoors and how they love to walk. Incorporating what they love with learning really helped them. With the winter months approaching fast, I now feel a stronger need to get our family winter clothes so we can do more learning outdoors!

The family seems to have opened up much more since last week. As soon as George and I walked in we were greeted with a big ole’ smile from the Mother, and she laughed at all of the mis-communications and confused glances that were being exchanged between us all. The 6-year old daughter also allowed me to help her with her homework while George assisted the Father in some forms to enroll the daughter in English-speaking classes. I think helping the daughter with her homework was the most satisfying for me, because, as corny as this sounds, I managed to get her to laugh and smile–some of her laughing had to with my mispronunciation of her name, but I feel that just emphasizes that many things are just as foreign and confusing to us as things are to them–we can feel just as misplaced in our own country when we’re taken out of its comfort level.
Before we left they were very grateful that we had come, and it seemed as though they were looking foward to our next visit. The gratitude coming from them was so rewarding. Its almost as if there is an underlying language, ones where words don’t necessarily need to be understood or said; they know that we are trying to help them, even though we can’t always catch on to what the other is saying…and with that mutual understanding, the appreciation on their side is identified, and the intentions on our side is perceived.

After weeks of anticipation, I finally met my Refugee family. My partner and I walked up to an apartment building feeling anxious and excited at the same time. A woman with a welcoming smile opened the door for us. Their apartment felt very homey. She didn’t know any English, so at first, we just smiled at each other. I was pretty relieved when her English speaking daughter came into the room.
After about ten minutes, the woman cut up some oranges, made some popcorn in a pot and served us orange juice shortly before she made us two rounds of coffee. I had never before felt more welcomed in a home than I had after ten minutes in this stranger’s home.
My partner and I tried to help the daughter with her math homework. Shortly after, I found that knowing math and explaining math are two completely different things. Unfortunately, we had to leave before her homework was finished. I immediately knew what Dr. Amick meant when he said that you feel like you can’t help enough.
When we said our goodbyes, the woman handed us a small black purse. The daughter explained that her mother had made it for us. I was the lucky one to keep the purse, and I felt very grateful for it.
Both the mother and daughter were so kind to us. My partner and I left chatting about everything that had just happened and making plans for our future visits. I can’t wait to go back this week!!