How many times have you had complete silence for an answer when you asked your English learners a question? I thought so. Speaking is a productive skill that requires manipulation of language. In order to speak, one must know some vocabulary and the basics of how to put words in a sentence. It may be…
3 Fantastic Speaking Activities That Will Make Your ESL Class More Exciting Read More »
Multi-level English learners in one classroom. That’s the name of the game, especially when you work with older students. Multi-level ESL classrooms provide advantages for English learners, where they have opportunities to interact with each other and learn language through practice and negotiating meaning. At the same time, teaching a multi-level classroom is challenging for
Teaching Multi-Level ESL Classes: What You Need to Know Read More »
Assess ESL students informally Assessment is an important part of teaching. That said, how to assess ESL students? Often, we work with multiple levels, needs and age groups of ESL students. In our state, we have a big state assessment once a year but the results come back at the end of the school year,
How to Assess ESL Students – the Wonders of Exit Slips Read More »
Speaking and writing activities for ESL beginners and intermediate level students Speaking and writing are the productive aspects of a language. They are also much more difficult to master because one needs to retrieve the information they already have and present it to the listener or reader. I see this all the time: a student
How to teach ESL speaking and writing with pictures Read More »
In my blog posts, I have been focusing on teaching strategies for English learners, especially those who are at the beginning level. By now you probably know that visuals, short meaning-packed sentences, background building, and repetition are key in reaching those who are just starting out on their English learning journey. When we incorporate the
Top Strategy for Teaching English Language Learners Read More »
Last month I published a post about the best textbooks for ESL beginners in middle and high school. It received tons of appreciation and a few people asked me if I could create a similar list for elementary level ESL beginners. In a way, I’ve always found that it is easier to find materials for
Beginner ESL Teaching Resources for Kids Read More »