Tutor Recommendations: SMART Goals
Newport Beach Library Literally Speaking: March/April 2015
Has your learner ever said, “I need
pronunciation, I want to speak better English, My goal is to learn past tense,
or I want to learn to spell”? Many of our learners get goals and skills
confused. When learners come to their personal interview, literacy staff helps
them set SMART
Goals. Goals have a specific end result. Skills on the other hand are
ongoing improvements.
Progress comes from working towards
personal goals. Reading and writing learners, who are also second language
learners, say they want to read or write better, learn grammar, or improve
vocabulary. These are valuable skills, but very different from goals.
At tutor training, Betty was the example
of a reading and writing learner. She dreamed of becoming a nurse and needed
the GED or high school diploma. She also wanted to talk to neighbors and read
maps and bus schedules.
Goals are specific accomplishments or
dreams to strive for. Skills, on the other hand, are ongoing, like a treadmill,
never stopping.
If your learner’s goals look like a list
of skills, it is time to brainstorm. Start by helping your learner identify
things he or she wants to do. Next, help your learner identify the goals he or
she can achieve within 3-6 months. Once these goals are identified, talk about
the steps needed to accomplish them. READ MORE !
