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Deb Peterson

Deb's Continuing Education Blog

By Deb Peterson, About.com Guide to Continuing Education

ESL Conversations

Wednesday January 21, 2009
In the recent poll here on what kind of ESL help people need most, almost half of the 79 responders so far answered Conversations.

My next question is: What kind of conversations? So here's another poll. I realize you'd probably like to choose more than one or two, but for now, please choose the MOST important area. I'd love to know how you would rank them in the order of importance. If you're game, let me know in a comment.

ESL Help:

Comments

January 21, 2009 at 9:14 pm
(1) Jennifer Heisler says:

I know this isn’t an option, but so very many families and individuals who are ESL folks can’t tell hospital staff a word about their medical conditions.

Add fear, terror or pain, and you end up with a patient who can’t even articulate where it hurts or the gist of what is happening.

I would love to see ESL classes have one class period where they teach (or even write down) personal medical history and brief translations “I have pain ___”.

This is especially important for people who speak languages for which translators cannot be quickly or easily located.

January 25, 2009 at 10:38 am
(2) Deb Peterson says:

What a great idea, Jennifer. I don’t usually even see hospital options in conversation lists. It’s not in mine, unfortunately. I’ll be sure to add it in the future. I may be calling on you for help!
Deb

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