Jodie CP #1

I met with Carlos for conversation.  Carlos is a Brazilian who is 28 years old.  He was sent here by his government to study English.  He is one of the 4,000 who are currently in the U.S. to study.  I congratulated him for being chosen and for his accomplishment.  He interrupted his study of electrical engineering to be here to learn English.

We went over the texts that Carlos sent me the night before.  I showed him the proper way to thank someone.  He immediately repeated the phrase and noted it in a notebook.  He shared with me about his family, his education and his job in the past.  He spoke slowly and was determined to express himself, though, at times, he lacked the vocabulary.  Sometimes, Carlos missed articles or used incorrect prepositions. 

He described to me what his government provides for him while he is here.  There was a word that I couldn’t understand.  I had to ask him to repeat it again.  It was the word “rent”.  He pronounced the “r” with an “h” sound, and he said the word without the “t” at the end.  He told me that he has always had trouble with any word that begins with an “r” because in Portuguese, his mother tongue, the “r” sounds like an “h”.  I suggested that we could practice pronouncing words that begin with an “r.”

He told me that he is older than many others who are sent here by his government.  Most are of the typical college age.  I encouraged him with the fact that his experiences in life and with his previous job will be valuable to his employer.  I also told him that I would do my best to help him to improve and to succeed.   It is so fun to help someone who is so motivated to learn.