how do you teach esl students effectively

7 Tips for Teaching ESL to Complete Beginners

• 1 Preparation is the key ...
• 2 Use a variety of activities to encourage your ESL students to talk more in class ...
• 3 Encourage your students as much as possible ...
• 4 Use lots of visuals and gestures ...
• 5 Focus on building your students’ vocabulary first ...
• 6 Commit to repeating everything you said ...
• 7 Encourage your students to practice as much as possible ...

Full Answer

What can I expect while teaching ESL?

13 Rules: How to Be a Good ESL Teacher

1. Don’t Be a Dictator When Teaching ESL. As a teacher, the classroom is never about you, but only the students. ...
2. Maximize Your Students’ Talk Time. This one is somewhat related to the first tip. ...
3. Be a Coach and Provide Feedback. ...
4. Use Humor in the Classroom. ...
5. Be a Creative ESL Teacher and Make Lessons Fun. ...
6. Keep Students Busy. ...
7. Try Out New Things. ...

More items...

How hard is it to be an ESL teacher?

The demand for ESL teachers throughout the world increases each year and teaching ESL – online or in a classroom – has become a popular career among English speakers. The good news is: It’s not difficult to become an ESL teacher. However, being a great ESL teacher certainly is.

How to become a certified ESL teacher?

Steps to Become an ESL Teacher

1. Get a Degree. A bachelor's degree is the minimum educational requirement for a professional ESL teacher. ...
2. Complete an ESL Teacher Prep Program. If your bachelor's degree is in ESL, you can probably skip this step. ...
3. Pass Your Exams. ...
4. Get Experience Teaching. ...

How do I get certificate to teach ESL?

Some certificate programs are available online. Becoming ESL certified requires completing a teacher education program to earn an initial teaching certificate at either the elementary or high school level. Bachelor's degree programs introduce you to teaching methods and techniques.

How can an ESL teacher be an effective teacher?

Firstly, effective ESL teachers motivate and stimulate ESL learners. Highly effective teachers may even get students really excited about learning and thoroughly engaged in class activities. Effective ESL teachers also guide students towards acquiring the language, tools and strategies they need for good communication.

What is the most effective way of teaching English?

1. Communicative language teaching (CLT) This approach is probably now the most popular teaching model for English language teaching globally. In part because it aims to put students in a variety of real-life situations, so that they can learn how to use their language skills to communicate in the real world.

What are the 5 method of teaching?

6 effective teaching methods and how to use themOnline learning. ... Experiential learning. ... Differentiation. ... Blended learning. ... Game-based learning. ... Student-centred learning.

What are the 4 types of teaching methods?

There are different types of teaching methods that can be categorized into four broad types.Teacher-centered methods,Learner-centered methods,Content-focused methods; and.Interactive/participative methods.

What is the best method of teaching is there such a thing?

There is no “best” method of teaching. However, many researchers today agree that including more student-centered learning approaches in the classroom can improve learning. Using only a teacher-centered approach leaves out many skills and learning opportunities for students.

Is there a single best method in teaching English Why?

According to academic research, linguists have demonstrated that there is not one single best method for everyone in all contexts, and that no one teaching method is inherently superior to the others.

What are the new method of teaching English?

4 New Methods of Teaching English in the Modern ClassroomTask-based Approach. Traditional curriculum design and class planning revolved around the topics considered useful for students. ... Project-based Approach. ... Lexical Syllabus. ... Using Smartphones in the Classroom.

How do you ensure effective teaching and learning?

10 effective teaching practices you can use right nowModel as you teach. ... Make mistakes. ... Work as a team. ... Encourage learning from experience. ... Let the students teach. ... Integrate technology into the classroom. ... Try graphic organizers. ... Emphasize behavior management.More items...•

Where in the world is it common to teach ESL to teenagers?

Well, even if you didn’t set out to teach this age group, if you plan to teach EFL abroad or online, chances are that you will. That’s because in many countries of the world, it’s very common to teach both kids and teens. Let’s look at the regions where this is the case.

How do I prepare a lesson plan for teenagers?

What this means is that the materials you use and the topics you teach about should relate to the teenage students’ lives. While relevancy is important for teaching all ages, it is especially important for teenagers in order to motivate them.

What are some ESL games for teenagers?

When choosing classroom games and activities for teaching ESL to teenagers, it’s important that you use advanced games so the teens don’t fret over feeling “childish.” The following are some effective games you can use with teenage students.

What are some English conversation topics for teenagers?

As such, it’s a good idea to push them toward thought-provoking conversations instead of the more simple subjects used with children (i.e., avoid, “What’s your favorite sport and why?” in favor of “How does media affect the thinking patterns of people today?”).

How do you deal with behavior problems when teaching teenagers?

It is critical that you are both fair and consistent with your discipline.

What is the game for ESL students?

This no-materials-needed classic is another game that teen ESL students enjoy. The students quickly pass a ball (or ball of paper) around the room while music plays. Use a popular song the students know and like to keep them engaged. The student holding the “hot potato” when the music stops has to answer a question correctly to earn a point.

Why is music important in the classroom?

Beyond games, using music in the classroom is also a great way to help students learn while having fun. For more song activities and song suggestions, check out the teens section of this article: ESL Songs for Kids and Teens.

How to give a lesson shape?

One of the best ways of giving a lesson shape is to focus on a certain function and take that function as the cue for the grammar that is taught during the lesson. Here is an example:

How to approach teaching?

The best way to approach teaching is to choose just one use or function, and focus on that specific point. Using our example from above:

What is the problem that teachers often encounter?

One problem that teachers often encounter is that of trying to do too much, too quickly. Here is an example:

Can you confuse students with phrasal verbs?

By using phrasal verbs (get through), you can confuse students who may already have quite a good grasp of basic verbs ("finish" instead of "get through" in this case). Slowing down speech patterns and eliminating idioms and phrasal verbs can go a long way to helping students learn more effectively.

Who published the book Understanding and Using English Grammar?

Understanding and Using English Grammar by Betty Schrampfer Azar published by Pearson ESL - Intermediate to advanced. The Advanced Grammar Book by Jocelyn Steer and Karen Carlisi published by Heinle & Heinle.

Who is Kenneth Beare?

Kenneth Beare is an English as a Second Language (ESL) teacher and course developer with over three decades of teaching experience. There are many non-professional teachers who are teaching English as a 2nd or foreign language. The teaching setting varies widely; to friends, at a charity, on a volunteer basis, as a part-time job, as a hobby, etc.

Do native speakers speak fast?

Native speakers are often not aware of how quickly they speak. Most teachers need to make a conscious effort to slow down when speaking. Perhaps more importantly, you need to become aware of the type of vocabulary and structures you are using. Here is an example: OK, Tom. Let's hit the books.

Introduction

This article deals with how to teach grammar effectively. We will start with a definition of grammar and its importance in language teaching. Secondly, we will present five key principles for teaching grammar.

What is grammar?

Before dealing with how to teach grammar, let us first define what grammar is.

Is grammar important?

Some teachers suggest that grammar is not as important as the ability to communicate fluently. They contend that it is not important for students to use correct grammar when they are talking or writing, as long as they are getting their message across. After all, the ultimate aim of language teaching is communication.

Why teach grammar?

Before describing how to teach grammar, it would be interesting to see why we should teach grammar in the first place.

5 key principles of grammar teaching

Teaching grammar is grounded on solid principles of language teaching. In this section, we will present five principles underlying grammar teaching. We will describe these principles based on the following dichotomies:

How to teach grammar (3 approaches)

The answer to how to teach grammar involves understanding how people learn.

Conclusion

This article dealt with how to teach grammar. We defined grammar and described 5 principles that underly the major approaches to language teaching.

What is an ESL teacher?

ESL teachers work with students from all over the world, who come from different cultural and linguistic backgrounds. They also bring varied schooling and life experiences with them. While a mainstream classroom mainly consists of students of the same age, an ESL teacher may work with a few grade levels at a time.

How to collaborate with ESL teachers?

Collaboration between ESL teachers and their mainstream colleagues can take many shapes and forms. For example: 1 a beginning-of-the-year letter from the ESL teacher to their colleagues with some information about what ESL is, what the ESL teacher does, a list of ESL students in the building and how the teacher can be of help; 2 A quick conversation in the hallway asking and answering questions 3 A sit-down with a colleague to go over a lesson plan 4 A shared document where both the mainstream teacher and the ESL teacher can plan and make notes 5 Sharing an infographic about teaching English language learners (take a look at these ones ), etc.

Why is perspective important in ESL?

This one is particularly effective because. It flips the situation around and allows the teachers to see where their English learners are in terms of their needs and culture. Communicating with families of ESL students .

Why do ESL teachers have professional conversations?

Professional conversations provide an opportunity for ESL teachers to share their insights not only about the students’ language proficiency but also about their cultures. It helps both the teachers and the students as in the end, every teacher’s goal is to ensure that the student has learned what they are taught.

Why is collaboration important in ESL?

Here are a couple of reasons why: Collaboration takes the veil of mystery off the field of English language teaching to non-native speakers; It opens up a conversation about possible ways to help English learners access content.

Why is ESL important for teachers?

That said, because of such exposure to different languages and cultures, an ESL teacher becomes a go-to person for both the families and mainstream teachers. The knowledge we possess about the school system and expectations is incredibly valuable for the families of English learners. We anticipate that there is a need for this kind of information and we act on it by arranging for translators, informing the administration, front office and the classroom teachers. Our knowledge of the students’ languages, cultural backgrounds and schooling is incredibly valuable to the administration and the classroom teachers. It helps them adjust their instruction and look for alternative ways to convey important information.

Can an ESL teacher screen a student?

If a language other than English is listed on the home language survey, the ESL teacher then screens the student. Depending on the scores of the screening test, they may ask for parental permission to provide ESL/ELL services. They may also deem that the student does not need any further services.

How to teach students to use new words?

Use new words in your conversation with the students so that they know the words and their usage. Allow students to make mistakes but ask them to continue with English language as the medium for communication. Observe and correct your students’ usage of words and help them improve their language usage skills.

How to make reading more interesting?

Reading is equally important as learning the rules of English. Use interactive ways to create interest in reading like utilizing various reading materials that relate to real life. Encourage your students read newspapers and magazines aloud turn by turn at the beginning of your class.Encourage your students to find new words from the prescribed text-material. This makes a fun activity where students find new words, learn their meanings and also improve their reading skills.

How to encourage students to write about themselves?

Make your students participate by encouraging them to write about themselves and the people they live with. Encourage peer evaluation ; it helps your students improve themselves by learning from their mistakes as well as from the mistakes of their peers. 2. Know the needs of your students.

How to engage students in interactive learning?

Dramas and plays are another method to engage students in interactive learning. Ask your students to perform a play based on any story from their prescribed text-book. Let this be a group task where students get to decide their characters in the play and prepare dialogues suitable to the scenes in the play.

How to test students' skills?

Test your students’ skills by having question-answer sessions in your class or by conducting tests. Not only will this help you assess their performance, but it will also help you find out problem areas where you are struggling. After figuring out their problem areas, you can give them exercises and worksheets accordingly.

Why is it so hard to learn?

Students involved in group study. Most students lose interest in language class due to a lack of a favorable environment. It is hard to learn when there is no motivating factor that pushes you to learn.

What are some apps that teach English?

There are many interactive apps like English For Kids, Grammar Up, Sentence Builder etc, for children that help them learn and use English effectively.

How to explain idioms to students?

Provide a picture to explain the context. This works best if you show an image that humorously illustrates the literal meaning of the idiom. It will make students laugh, but also help them understand or guess what a phrase means. Idioms are full of colorful imagery, perfect for a flashcard or photo. Show the picture to your students and have them guess the meaning of the idiom.

What makes idioms fun?

Colorful language and powerful imagery make idioms a lot of fun for ESL learners. When you throw cats and dogs in a scene where they are falling from the sky, it’s hard to know exactly what a phrase might mean. It’s almost like a code-breaking game, where students must learn that when certain words come together in a phrase, they can mean something very different .

How to teach up in the air?

Teaching tips: Present this image, featuring the idiom “up in the air.” Talk to the students about what it means, and then present the following dialogue. Afterward, talk about what your students are currently up in the air about. Then, have them come up with their own sample dialogue.

How to teach idioms?

A great way to teach idioms is to use a theme. For example, you could use all weather-related idioms ( see this great worksheet !). Or teach sports-related idioms with this helpful worksheet. By using a common theme to teach idioms, it’s easier for students to grasp the meanings of the phrases, and see how similar words can mean very different things.

Why is it important to teach idioms?

It’s important to not only teach the meaning of idioms, but to also teach how to use them correctly and effectively. When a non-native speaker uses an idiom correctly, he or she will sound very fluent. But, on the other hand, if they bumble the phrase, they will sound the exact opposite.

What is fluentu sorted by?

On FluentU, all the videos are sorted by skill level and are carefully annotated for students. Words come with example sentences and definitions. Students will be able to add them to their own vocabulary lists, and even see how the words are used in other videos.

What does "guideline" mean?

Meaning: an unwritten but generally accepted guideline, policy or method of doing something

How to keep a classroom environment from being disorderly?

Learn and implement positive methods. This will keep the classroom environment running smoothly. Keep learning materials organized. Have a plan in mind and, in a classroom, make sure that students know what's expected of them. It's much more difficult to learn in a disorderly environment. Try to handle disruptive students in a positive manner, and figure out what the underlying issues are.

Why do students learn better?

Students learn better when they're motivated internally, such as by their own curiosity, rather than by punishments and rewards . A teacher's enthusiasm or boredom in the subject is usually obvious to students, and it's likely to "rub off" on them.

How to know more than your students do?

You have to know more than your students do if you're going to present material to them. In addition, you should be willing to admit when you don't know the answer to a question. Help the student research the answer if possible, or look it up on your own and answer it later. Earn the trust and respect of your students.

How to help students with learning problems?

This is the best way to assess their levels of understanding and find out which ones are having problems and why. Individual guidance can also help to keep advanced students from getting bored if they're provided with more challenging activities.

How to teach one on one to a small group?

This is much easier in a small group or one-on-one than it is in a classroom, but it can still be done. Provide visual, auditory, and hands-on activities to meet your students' needs. Have a variety of tools and resources available to them. Provide individual attention to students.

How to get students to listen to what you have to say?

Earn the trust and respect of your students. This is essential to getting them to listen to what you have to say and follow your guidance. Try to connect with students on an appropriately personal level. In a school setting, this can be as simple as asking a child about his pets after class. It may be harder, but even more important, to do with resistant students.

How to teach ESL students to speak?

Encourage oral communication. Students have different natural ways of learning, but encouraging ESL learners to communicate verbally in class helps them practice the language and detect verbal cues. Talk with students to describe what you are doing, wearing, and planning; this helps them develop language and cultural awareness. By adding verbal response elements to every lesson, teachers can help ESL students become comfortable speaking a new language in front of others.

Why do ESL students pair up?

Besides gaining practical speaking experience, they can also correct one another. Pairs are more effective than larger groups, Liz explains because both students are actively involved. Students who are more eager and skillful sometimes dominate larger groups; struggling learners often fall behind.

What is ESL classroom?

ESL classrooms often have students from a wide variety of cultural backgrounds and traditions. An article on the Reach to Teach website points out that not only are there language barriers to overcome, but also a wide array of educational backgrounds and culture-specific learning styles.

What are the challenges of teaching English as a second language?

Every teacher strives to make a long-term difference in the lives of children who attend their classrooms. Educators who teach English as a Second Language (ESL) have no doubts about their impact on students. Teaching English to speakers of other languages present unique challenges: 1 Due to limited vocabulary range or nervousness, students may struggle to communicate or explain their confusion in full detail. 2 Limited literacy in a native language (L1) can create an obstacle for literacy in a second language (L2). 3 Cultural norms or classroom routines, such as raising your hand or brainstorming, are foreign concepts and acclimation requires time.

What is ESL in education?

Every teacher strives to make a long-term difference in the lives of children who attend their classrooms. Educators who teach English as a Second Language (ESL) have no doubts about their impact on students.

How do babies learn their language?

When infants start to grasp the language, they are surrounded by learning clues. Their parents talk to them throughout the day, pointing out and naming objects, explaining their actions and even interpreting the child’s moods and feelings. This is how children learn their native language.

Why is learning English important?

Learning English is a crucial priority but concessions are necessary for the whirlwind of changes they are facing.