My grandmother says she used to crochet, but started making this. Is this crochet/if not, what is it?

I have just started getting into crochet, very much a beginner, and my 88 year old grandmother saw me crocheting and said that she used to be able to crochet a long time ago and asked if I could teach her again. I tried showing her, but she got confused and tried showing me what she remembered from when she used to crochet, and started doing this. I don't think this is even crochet, but I'm not sure what it is and I'm hoping for insight. She speaks little to no English, and I don't know the words for crochet, knitting, etc. in her native language, so there's a bit of a language barrier. I tried showing her a picture of knitting needles, but she says she only used one hook and not two. She wants to start making blankets again but she's frustrated with the crochet hook and I'm not sure what tool to get her for this kind of yarn work. If anyone knows what this is that she's doing and what tool works for this, please let me know!