57 FREE BusyTeacher's Top ESL Articles [Editors' Choice]
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Selected teacher-tested ESL articles that we love! These are the article every ESL teacher should read, according to BusyTeacher's editors. Please let us know which articles are your favorite by 'liking' them on Facebook or retweeting them!

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Excuse Me, Teacher, Can I Go to the Bathroom: Managing Interruptions

Excuse Me, Teacher, Can I Go to the Bathroom: Managing Interruptions

•Editors' Choice,
You are probably familiar with the scenario: you at the front of the room, in the middle of lecturing on some important grammar point, when someone raises his hand. “Excuse me, Teacher?&rdq ...
14 Views 67,691 All
Brilliant Brainstorms: How to Use Mind Maps to Jump-Start Writing

Brilliant Brainstorms: How to Use Mind Maps to Jump-Start Writing

•Editors' Choice,
Writing is intimidating enough for second language learners, so why not simplify the process for them. Using mind maps to organize thoughts, brainstorm ideas, and synthesize information will sure ...
10 Views 76,493 All
Say What? 3 Tips for Perfecting Pronunciation

Say What? 3 Tips for Perfecting Pronunciation

•Editors' Choice,
Pronunciation is an immense issue for every language learner no matter their age or their level. It is a constant issue that students struggle with, and it is imperative to have focused practice ...
9 Views 26,537 All
10 Out of the Ordinary Places Your Students can Pick up New Vocabulary

10 Out of the Ordinary Places Your Students can Pick up New Vocabulary

•Editors' Choice,
Learning any language in an immersion situation by its very nature offers endless opportunities to pick up new vocabulary. In fact, sometimes the volumes of new vocabulary can be utterly overwhel ...
4 Views 14,389 All
Don’t Do It: 10 Things Never to Do in the Classroom

Don’t Do It: 10 Things Never to Do in the Classroom

•, Editors' Choice
Teachers are the head of a classroom, and with that responsibility comes a certain amount of authority. Remember that all teachers have bad days and make mistakes. This list of 10 things never to ...
37 Views 316,787 All
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The Power of Words: 5 Easy Tools to Help Your Students Learn Vocabulary

The Power of Words: 5 Easy Tools to Help Your Students Learn Vocabulary

•, Editors' Choice
Vocabulary instruction is a part of every ESL class. Whether you are teaching reading, speaking or listening, your students will encounter unfamiliar words. As an ESL teacher, part of your job is ...
6 Views 17,202 All
They Already Read It, But Did They Get It? 10 Ways to Check Reading Comprehension

They Already Read It, But Did They Get It? 10 Ways to Check Reading Comprehension

•Editors' Choice,
The process of reading, being able to connect semanticc input with the letters on the page, does not mean much if language learners cannot understand what they have read. The following exercises, ...
12 Views 133,471 All
10 Simple Ways to Make Reading Class Fun

10 Simple Ways to Make Reading Class Fun

•Editors' Choice,
Whether the kids in your ESL class enjoy reading or it is the class they most dread, you can inspire them and give them a love for reading, and it is easier than you think. These few simple tips ...
20 Views 221,020 All
Teens and Tweens: 4 Most Effective Ways to Reach Younger Learners

Teens and Tweens: 4 Most Effective Ways to Reach Younger Learners

•, Editors' Choice
Younger learners can be both fun and frustrating depending on the time of day, the cycles of the moon, and the distractions that almost every new day can bring. Students have a lot on their plate ...
4 Views 34,514 All
7 Specific Strategies for Your Next Reading Class

7 Specific Strategies for Your Next Reading Class

•, Editors' Choice
When reading class is just on the other side of the bell, it is not too late to incorporate the following activities into class. They take very little preparation (some take none at all) and can m ...
4 Views 12,867 All
Are You Tense About Tenses? 5 Tense Review Activities

Are You Tense About Tenses? 5 Tense Review Activities

•, Editors' Choice
There is no need to be tense about tenses. One of the best ways to ensure that students are progressing is to provide occasional review of several of the tenses the students have been learning. I ...
14 Views 179,476 All
Where Have You Been? 5 Perfect Tips for Practicing Present Perfect

Where Have You Been? 5 Perfect Tips for Practicing Present Perfect

•, Editors' Choice
Present Perfect tense is a big turning point in a student’s language learning. Once they have gotten to this grammar point, they have mastered a lot and are moving into more and more complex ...
8 Views 81,146 All
3 Perfect Ways to Introduce Past Perfect Tense

3 Perfect Ways to Introduce Past Perfect Tense

•, Editors' Choice
This tense is reserved for advanced learners for good reason. Students can pretty easily get around using the tense altogether by just using two past tense verbs with some time markers. It is stil ...
12 Views 142,987 All
Reading Stronger, Faster, Better: 5 Activities for Teaching Reading Strategies

Reading Stronger, Faster, Better: 5 Activities for Teaching Reading Strategies

•Editors' Choice,
Reading is paramount to language learning, yet, much to the disappointment of teachers, it can be a difficult skill to teach. How do you teach students to become better readers, especially with a ...
32 Views 266,402 All
I Like Swimming: 3 Tremendous Techniques for Teaching Gerunds and Infinitives

I Like Swimming: 3 Tremendous Techniques for Teaching Gerunds and Infinitives

•Editors' Choice,
The topic of gerunds vs. infinitives is a notoriously confusing one among students of all levels. To native speakers it comes naturally, and we don’t really ever think about why we use one ...
32 Views 222,349 All
The Toughest Class You Will Ever Teach: 9 Tips for Engaging Middle School Students

The Toughest Class You Will Ever Teach: 9 Tips for Engaging Middle School Students

•, Editors' Choice
Teaching little kids can be fun. They have energy and a fascination with the world that only comes from the innocence of childhood. Adult students, on the other hand, have a higher cognitive abili ...
11 Views 161,948 All
What Does She Look Like vs. What is She Like? Distinguishing Between Descriptions

What Does She Look Like vs. What is She Like? Distinguishing Between Descriptions

•Editors' Choice,
One of the topics ESL learners really enjoy is describing people. It is a universal need and want to be able to talk about the people close to us. I adore teaching this topic because students are ...
28 Views 486,268 All
4 Types of Problem Students and Strategies to Manage Them

4 Types of Problem Students and Strategies to Manage Them

•, Editors' Choice
As with any classroom setting you may encounter problem students in ESL classes. Problem students are challenging because they may disrupt the learning environment, make your job more difficult t ...
3 Views 74,416 All
Goodbye, Boring Reading Classes: Using Reader’s Theatre To Spice Up The Reading Class

Goodbye, Boring Reading Classes: Using Reader’s Theatre To Spice Up The Reading Class

•, Editors' Choice
Reading is one of the most essential skills to teach language learners; however, if you’ve ever been in a reading classroom, you know that reading can also be one of the skills students are ...
8 Views 32,959 All
What Every Listening Teacher Needs to Know

What Every Listening Teacher Needs to Know

•, Editors' Choice
For ESL students, reading and writing have a tendency to occupy most of the teaching time, but listening and speaking are just as valuable, if not more so, in helping your students reach English f ...
4 Views 16,514 All
What Every Teacher Should Know About Reaching Advanced Learners

What Every Teacher Should Know About Reaching Advanced Learners

•, Editors' Choice
Teaching advanced language learners is very different from teaching any other level. Every teacher should have exposure to all different levels, but just like beginners, advanced students require ...
5 Views 51,520 IntAdvExam
4 Fascinating Ways for Teaching -ED and -ING Adjectives

4 Fascinating Ways for Teaching -ED and -ING Adjectives

•Editors' Choice,
The topic of -ED and -ING adjectives can be a refreshing one as it gives you the chance to introduce a higher level of new vocabulary as well as open up a whole new world of expressing opinions an ...
34 Views 270,886 All
Hello, Hello: Be Ready for World Hello Day (November 21) with These ESL Activities

Hello, Hello: Be Ready for World Hello Day (November 21) with These ESL Activities

•Editors' Choice,
Some people might consider themselves friendly: others might consider themselves shy. Either way, your students should be encouraged on a daily basis to use their language skills to interact with ...
5 Views 28,545 All
Top 10 Websites for the ESL Teacher

Top 10 Websites for the ESL Teacher

•Editors' Choice,
The longer you have been teaching, the thicker your files are getting, but it is never too soon or too late to add to your pool of resources. You may already be familiar with the following websit ...
49 Views 523,532 All
L: LOL – Have Some Laughs While Learning English [Teacher Tips from A to Z]

L: LOL – Have Some Laughs While Learning English [Teacher Tips from A to Z]

•Editors' Choice,
There is nothing wrong with having a little fun as we learn. One of the advantages with teaching English is there are many different fun and funny things you can do with the language as you teach. ...
4 Views 37,470 All