Our ap is leaving in a month, and last week a neighbour told me she has decided not to have APs anymore but she felt bad as her current one had done nothing wrong, she just wanted the house back to themselves, and she was happy to recommend him.
Early in his placement she had told me she found his progress with English was slow and she was having to re-explain the same concepts to him, but she said it had improved a lot.
I was really hoping to take him on as it would obviously save a lot of trouble, but DH was unhappy with his English when we met tonight. A couple of times he didn't understand direct questions like 'How old are you?' when we asked, although he was reasonably articulate in talking about some things.
DH was worried there would be confusion in understanding instructions - he's not very patient (we have been spoiled by having APs with pretty good English thus far) and it would make a strained atmosphere if there are misunderstandings, though I do most of the communication with APs. And also DH might get annoyed with him if he can't have a conversation with him without it getting tangled in knots.
I kind of think it's less not understanding than perhaps having to concentrate a lot of what he's going to say next? So I wonder if communicating instructions might be best reiterated by text - some APs have admitted they find it easier to take instructions written down than spoken (we have a white board for a week plan) . But that still wouldn't answer the problem of not being able to converse easily.
I will ask neighbour some questions about his English, but in the meantime, back to the drawing board.