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 donts 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!
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 st ...
Nothing says “spring” more than pastel colors, flowers, and baby animals, right?
And why? Because spring is the season of rebirth, a time of year marked by new beginnings, when everyt ...
Saint Patrick’s Day on March 17th is a holiday celebrated around the world.
Although it was originally created as a religious holiday, it has evolved into more of a celebration of Irish cul ...
I spend a lot of time listening to popular music—not originally by choice.
But I have an adolescent daughter, hence I spend a lot of time shuttling her to music and basketball practice and ...
Reading is so much more than starting with the first word on the page and moving along each line till you get to the end.
Reading is an essential skill for academic success, and we all know how i ...
Controversial topics make many teachers want to run away from the curriculum screaming, but for ESL teachers they offer an unequalled opportunity to foster discussion in the classroom. Though you ...
When February rolls around a young man’s fancy turns to love, at least, his girlfriend hopes he starts to think about Valentine’s Day.
There are many things traditionally associated ...
Now that everyone has recovered from the holidays and had time to settle back into the routine, take advantage of the fact that your students are a bit refreshed from the time off and start the mo ...
Teaching children can be immensely rewarding, anyone who has taught children can tell you that. But it’s not fun and games all the time, and sometimes it’s just not that easy. English ...
When and how often to assess students has long been a controversial topic in education. Some argue that students are tested too much and that too much time is spent “teaching to the test.&rd ...
Contrary to the belief of many students, the existence of spellcheck does not negate the need to learn how to spell. If you don’t know how to begin to spell words like antidisestablishmentar ...
When you teach in a small, rural school district or in a district with little funding, finding places to visit and money for fields trips can be a challenge. At the same time, teachers know ...
Not all countries celebrate Christmas, but if you're teacing your students English, it's important to teach them about the holidays celebrated in English-speaking countries. One of those holidays ...
Mention that you are going to read a play by Shakespeare or one of Charles Dickens’ classics and many students groan. These are some of the greatest literary works of all time, but students ...
Slideshows have been around for a while, but in most classrooms they are only used as a way for presenting small amounts of information. Teachers may use a slideshow to give an overview of a topic ...
A good student has certain qualities that make him a success in the studies. From being punctual and eating a healthy diet to doing exercise and making friends, a good student has everything that ...
Looking for Christmas games to play with you class? Look no further! These games work well with beginning learners with virtually no English ability to more advanced students. IF you have a mixed ...
Every year, millions of teens begin the college application process. They meticulously fill out applications, craft thoughtful essays, try one last time to improve their ACT/SAT scores, and hope t ...
Teachers often spend a lot of time in front of the classroom talking to students, but students need a chance to talk too. Bring some fun discussion activities into the classroom to give students a ...
A recent study from the National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine found that English language learners lack access to STEM instruction. This defiicit oftem stems from underfunded sc ...
Game shows have long been a staple of English culture. Shows such as Wheel of Fortune, Jeopardy, and The Price is Right have been on television for decades. These shows provide a lot of ent ...
A pronoun must agree with its antecedent in person, gender, and number. Sounds easy, right? Unfortunately, it's not always such an easy concept for students to grasp, especially in a world where " ...
The state of education varies by country. In some countries, all students receive a high-quality education and are surrounded by individuals (teachers, parents, government officials) who put a hig ...
It's no surprise to learn that countries like America put a much stronger emphasis on free time and having fun than some of their Eastern counterparts. Some students come from countries where educ ...
One goal of English language instruction is to help learners gain the skills to use English confidently in every day conversations. To build that confidence, it helps to hear lots of English conve ...
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