In this section there are 2,124 articles that cover essential ESL topics such as how to teach grammar, use realia, and teach young learners. There are also a lot of lesson ideas and fun activities included in the articles. This ESL article, for example, is about teaching grammar and describes five great activities. It has been given five stars by other busy teachers so it obviously has useful content. Check it out for yourself or take a look at other articles that relate better to your questions or teaching situation.
There are a lot of dos and don’ts and tips and tricks that many teachers learn through teaching.
Our ESL Essentials section will help you master the basics of teaching English and will help you start teaching like a 'pro'. Every ESL Essentials article provides clear, to-the-point instructions that can be used with the students right away.
At the moment we have 2,124 ESL Essentials.
Sometimes that is the best way to learn but the experiences of others can also help you develop your teaching skills without having to make the same mistakes. If you have a great story or activity, feel free to submit your own article so that you can share your knowledge with others. We would love to hear from you!
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ESL Articles
View our latest knowledgebase articles that will help you become a better English teacher. Learn from
professional teachers and put a bit of your own creativity into it!
Listening is the gateway to understanding and communicating and, therefore, is absolutely critical for language learners of all levels.
If students struggle to listen carefully, they will miss ...
The way you talk to your class is extremely important for your success as a teacher and your students’.
As young children they remember more about their surroundings; what was said or done ...
Your students have better things to debate than whether Ariana Grande is a better singer than Rhianna. By introducing structured, formal debate to your ESL classroom, your students will benefit w ...
Verb tenses receive a lot of attention in English instruction—in fact, they receive perhaps more attention than any other aspect of grammar.
And with good reason: there are 13 verb ten ...
Try as you might, careful as you are with your planning, sometimes what you plan to cover in class does not work with the clock.
When you are ready for the bell but the bell is not quite ready ...
Bigger, brighter, better, best…comparative and superlative adjectives are all around us in English.
We use these adjectives to compare items, express preferences and give value judgments ...
We're often told we should put the past behind us, not dwell in the past, etc…However, ESL students must do just that…to learn the simple past tense. As they learn that regular ve ...
All the technology available at our fingertips and the way information travels at lightning speed on the Internet is great to have, but let’s not forget the basic tools like our trusty wh ...
Being able to distinguish between fact and opinion is an important skill for both reading and listening comprehension, especially as students delve into the complexities of a new language.
As stu ...
Celebrated on 1 April every year, April Fool's Day is a tradition enjoyed by many around the world. And nothing helps an ESL class relax more than some good old-fashioned laughter. And isn't tha ...
As an ESL teacher, one of your many functions is to equip your students with language skills for navigating daily life. One of these unpleasant but highly important parts of life is an emerg ...
Maybe at some point in our youth we wondered, 'Is there really a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow?' Although pots of gold are hard to come by these days, we can offer our ESL students a les ...
Saint Patrick’s Day on March 17 is a holiday celebrated around the world. It's also a fun way to explore Irish culture through activities and lessons.
When you think of St. Patrick's Day, t ...
Controversial topics make many teachers want to run away from the curriculum screaming, but for ESL teachers, they offer an unequaled opportunity to foster discussion in the classroom. Th ...
Here's how you can recognize a true teacher. Yes, it's that simple :)
Please share with your friends if you think our profession deserves just a little more respect!
Your students can help you be a better teacher.
Understanding the learning styles of your students can help you become a better teacher. And in this way, you can even learn from them ...
Jeopardy is a perfect ESL classroom activity for any level, any size of group, and any topic area.
It’s extremely adaptable and can be used for almost limitless purposes:
Review of the d ...
What do we usually do when we have to teach fruits and vegetables in English? We use flashcards and illustrations, right? But what if we were to bring a basket full of fruits and not only have stu ...
New Year’s Day has come and gone, and most of us are still adjusting to having to remember the year is no longer 2012. January is a great month to focus on new beginnings and goals for the y ...
As with all rules in grammar, capitalization helps to convey a clear meaning. The purpose of capitalization is to portray the importance of different words to the reader. For example, the phr ...
In this article, we will discuss a type of verb that describes a state of being. These verbs are referred to as Linking, Helping, or Auxiliary verbs. Unlike typical verbs, these “to ...
Likes and dislikes are - arguably - the most important topic to teach anyone how to navigate. This skill allows us to express feelings about what’s going on, appropriately stand up f ...
As students advance through their ESL journey, they often acquire good reading and comprehension skills, at least on the surface. However, they often lack inferential reading skills to find an ...
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