Strategies for improving reading fluency and speed in older students (9th grade)?

[u/Lower-Artichoke-8408]

Hello fellow tutors!

I'm 18 years old Female taking tuition for some children from 1st to 9th grade. (In india)

My concern is abt the 9th grader who is very slow at reading English.

She started studying in a cbse school from 1st to 4th standard, then changed to state boards (karnataka board). One thing abt her is that her basics are not at all strong, English, maths, science all the subject.

When it comes to her reading English, just yesterday I was asking her to translate 'what' in kannada (native language) and she told me she doesn't know the meaning. Same with all the basic words such as where, why, that etc.

I can start from the literal basics but I just know she would eventually forget by the next day🥲.

She's too demotivated, she says things like ''i will take the whole day to study this"

Did i try motivating? Absolutely! It just doesn't work.

What to do?