How do you teach reading to a non-reader and non-English speaker students?

In order for the symbols on the page to make sense, the student must have some grasp of what they individually mean. The person can learn to read in their own language, but if they don't know the correct sound behind each letter it will never be correct. Students must know the sound that each letter makes and then the sounds behind combinations of letters. Once the basics have been taught, they can apply the sounds coming from the page to known vocabulary.