Meet the Kooks: Conversation Practice for Not-So-Conversational Kids

By Judson Smith

A new way to teach not-so-conversational kids.

Adapting methods of teaching conversation originally used for foreign language learners, this book provides a ground-breaking, yet strikingly simple way to give your communication-challenged child essential practice with back-and-forth conversing.

I have taught ESL conversation in Japan for over 25 years. Here, there are courses and textbooks designed specifically for students who have memorized a great deal of English words and grammar, but have little idea how to employ it in actual use. Many of these textbooks use something called 'conversation pattern practice' to compensate for a student's lack of intuitive sense of what to say.

In this method, a dialog pattern is first simply read aloud, then repeated while gradually varying the subjects, objects or descriptive words. A kind of conversation template is formed, with variable elements within a fixed framework.

This way, the basic 'mechanics' of conversation are made plain for the student, something of crucial value for children on the autism spectrum and with other communication issues.

Far simpler to use than traditional role-playing activities, there is no preparation for the 'teacher, ' or explanation for the student required. A student's ability to read is helpful but not necessary, as the dialogs are short enough to be memorized. You can sit down with your student, read a dialog, and practice it in 5 or 10 minutes. By internalizing these conversation patterns, a child is provided with solid tools they can make use of in their overall social skills education.
The 15 units include likes, dislikes, moods, commenting, daily activities, experiences, and situational lessons such as thanking, apologizing, and asking permission.

Employing an uncluttered, pictographic visual design to focus attention, and a cast of off-beat characters with distinct personalities and interests, Meet the Kooks is an effective and fun way to get your child or students conversing within minutes.

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Judson Smith has brilliantly applied the Japanese practice of "English Conversation Schools" to teach conversational skills to autistic children with his remarkable book, "Meet the Kooks." His creative and humorous illustrations will entice all children to learn and engage with these characters. Moreover, this book can easily be used by parents, educators, and intervention providers to enhance the application of foundational social skills to meaningful, everyday interactions. Beneficial for any age.

Celine A. Saulnier, Ph.D.
Owner, Neurodevelopmental Assessment & Consulting Services
Author, Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales, Third Edition

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: B0C9G87Q5W
• ISBN13: 9798397461207
• Release Date: June 2023
• Publisher: Independently Published
• Length: 110 Pages
• Weight: 0.60 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.2" x 8.5" x 11.0"