How do you teach a Japanese penpal better English?

Question

I have a few penpals from Japan, but one in particular has a really hard time with English. She asked me to help her, but I don't know how. Any tips? Sorry if this isn't the right category for the question.

Answer 1

I'd say the Japanese people in general learn enough English by the time they graduate high school that they can communicate pretty good. You can correct the person if they would accept it, sometimes they really don't want to be corrected, nobody likes to be corrected, however just tell her to read your letters and ask you anything she might not understand. More than trying to correct her to get her English any better just tell her that she'll get better through more use of the language and by reading your letters. Pronunciation isn't really teachable to penpals, grammar could be taught, slang can be taught, tough one, I think they will appreciate and enjoy any encouragement you can give them to inspire them towards better English, good luck

http://squidoo.com/ghettogrammar116

or

http://spanishjapanese.blogspot.com

Answer 2

It depends on what level they are at already. One thing I do with penpals is have them write the same thing in both Japanese and English. Then compare the two. That way you know what they are trying to say in English. You probably need to correct the mistakes she has made in English (I use the track changes function in Word) and send it back to her. Then, if you notice really important things that she is doing wrong consistently, explain the grammar rule about it and give her some exampes. If doing things like that aren't enough, then maybe having a penpal isn't the best way for her to learn.

Answer 3

me-maid-in-japan 100% and me learned (bad) English through,,,talking to friends and watching English DVD with English Audio and English subtitle on.

Tell him or her to watch 24, desparate housewives, ALF, fullhouse, criminal minds, heroes, prison break, star trek, whatever TV shows available on DVDs. In English audio with English subtitle on. Even sesami street.

TVs are better because you get used to the accent of a specific person.

Seriously, you will pick up the language and soon start insulting, hummiliating, and attacking your friend, or more like teasing your friend,  using the expressions you get from,,,like the colbert or scrubs....

Answer 4

Send her tips.

Such as sentence structure, verb conjugation, adjectives, etc.

Just give her simple advice that are helpful. Don't teach her something she'll never use. :)

If you know katakana, give some words pronunciation using that.