I'll try again.
Many are confused by spelling English words with ie and ei, such as believe, receive, and weight.
The poem tells how to figure each different spelling:
I before e, (you usually write i before e)
Except after c, (but if i comes after c, you write cei)
Unless "ei" says a,
As in neighbor and weigh. (but if the sound is "a" like in weigh [way] you write ei)
I didn't make up the poem; it's a forgotten oldie that helped kids spell in the old days . . . when it mattered, ha ha ha.
The alternative is to try to remember each different spelling word by sight, as phonics doesn't help with the problem.
Anyway, the interpreter said she understood. The main thing is will her poor, confused student?
