Last Wednesday I met with my conversation partner for the second time after his classes at CIES. I decided to have us explore campus while we talked. This time he brought a real camera and had me take many photographs of him posing next to different monuments. He is now using picture in front of the Ruby Diamond Auditorium as his profile picture on facebook. Ohnurhan mentioned how our university campus was bigger (in area) than any other campus in Turkey. We then saw Onur, one of his friends from Turkey. Onur told me that people in America are more patient than people in Turkey. Every time he goes to the post office here, he sees people patiently waiting in line, but in Turkey people would not be so patient. As we walked, I quizzed Ohnurhan on vocabulary words he had learned on our previous conversation, and taught him new vocabulary. As before I would point at an object and tell him the word in English. I always found that associating vocabulary words with objects really helps.
Associating vocabulary words with objects is always a good idea. I'm no scientist, but I think it connects the word to the image rather than the translation in our minds. Do you find that he (or she) knows most of the things you point to?
ReplyDeleteThis is great! I love the idea of taking a walk and just pointing things out. It's similar to how we learn language as a child and it seems like it would be more intuitive. I can see this being a fun, helpful way to learn the vocabulary you actually need-- the things around you!
ReplyDelete