Find That Perfect Worksheet

On the first day of class, the halls buzz with excitement. Teachers get ready to greet their students, anxious to get started, and our young, or not-so-young, learners are nervous, wondering what their new teacher will be like. Of course, first impressions count, and it’s essential to have a first day of class that will set the tone for what the rest of the school year or course will be li ...

Starting a class with an entire group of new students can be a stressful experience for both teacher and student. Teachers may feel awkward speaking in front of a group of new faces who appear to be watching in a quite judgmental manner. Students also feel nervous during a first class, as they may not have spoken English for a very long time. This often creates a series of confidence issues with the stu ...

Have you ever noticed that students start disappearing right about the time you start reviewing for a test? Review lessons can be boring enough, but grammar reviews are precisely the type of thing that make students want to skip class and reappear only for the test. Now, what if you were to give your students a grammar review they wouldn’t want to miss? Here are some classic games you can adapt ...

He said…She said…He asked her if, when, where or what… Reported Speech, also known as Indirect Speech, is not one the most fun to teach. What ESL teachers usually do is simply have one student supply a statement or ask a question and then have another student report what was said/asked. However, there are others ways to practice Reported Speech, more creative and engaging ways, ...

Past Continuous tense can be introduced at a fairly low level of language acquisition.   There is no shortage of great activities for practicing Past Continuous tense, but it may take some time and review to solidify the point with learners. Here are three great activities to practice Past Continuous tense to get your wheels turning. Review the Grammar A quick review of Past Continuous tense w ...

You are in a small classroom at your local language school or university. It is almost the end of the semester, and your speaking class has been fun all year. You class has learned vocabulary, done role plays and strategic interaction, and practiced speaking to one another and to you. The big question now is how do you evaluate their progress? You either speak or you don’t, right? It’s eith ...

Board games are a useful and ready asset for the ESL classroom. Most require little to no preparation, and with a little patience, your English learners add a new resource to their language studies. On top of all that, board games are a fun way to learn new vocabulary and make a change from the normal routine. Here are some tried but true board games that many ESL classes have enjoyed. Try These Top ...