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!
For new teachers, or for experienced teachers entering new classrooms, first impressions are incredibly important.
Students will be testing us, trying to discern where the boundaries lie, what th ...
Going into a new class on the first day can be exciting and intimidating for new teachers and experienced teachers alike. Depending on your teaching situation there are a lot of variables to take ...
Anxious to get back to class?
Well, your students are probably anxious too. Since most don’t know you or their fellow classmates, you’ve probably got some great icebreakers and first ...
I was traumatized in first grade because I scored an S in spelling on my report card.
And though I’ve been able to let that go (and formed a deep relationship with spell check in the meanti ...
Writing a lesson plan will ensure that you are prepared for your class and will make it run more smoothly. It is important to break the material up into several sections and choose activities s ...
Gone are the days when teachers stood at the front of the class doling out their wisdom to rows and columns of students.
Today’s students are very different from those that sat in those des ...
Teaching adult ESL learners can be an enjoyable and satisfying experience.
You may be able to relate to your students on a more personal level than if you teaching children, and adult learners ar ...
Are you looking for some fun and interactive ways to practice pronouns in your classroom?
Try these activities which get students talking and moving while they put these little words to big use. ...
Are you a doodler?
For some people, drawing comes second nature. They have talent from the youngest of ages and can make beautiful pictures in any number of mediums. Then there are people whose d ...
I have taught my share of listening classes, and that means I’ve used my share of prerecorded dialogues and listening passages.
They’re great, don’t get me wrong. But sometimes ...
There is little worse for a teacher than walking away from class feeling as though your lesson has been a flop.
It doesn’t happen often, but it does happen. And perhaps the most challenging ...
Whether it’s in the ESL classroom or an immersion setting, movies are a hit.
People love movies. The movie business is proof that a good movie can make a huge impact on both society and ind ...
It’s not every day you get to celebrate someone’s birthday.
But almost every day is someone’s unbirthday! Birthdays are fun to celebrate, and they are a great chance to share so ...
Worksheets have gotten a bum rap in the classroom these days.
They have a reputation for being busy work, pointless activities to keep students hands moving even if their brains are a million mil ...
Three…two…one…is your blood pumping yet?
There’s just something about a countdown, about knowing the buzzer can crack the silence at any second. If you don’t beli ...
How much do your students have to say?
Are they easy talkers, or do they need a little more coaxing? Is it hard to get them started or are they always ready to chatter up a storm? If you have a c ...
For many years, I shied away from dictation.
It seemed boring and often pointless, and I figured there were better activities for my limited class time. But when I decided to give dictation a cha ...
Are you looking for some interesting and out of the ordinary ways to practice relative clauses with your students?
Here are some fun and creative activities you can do with your students today.
...
Who wants to talk about things they know nothing about?
Unfortunately, that is frequently how your ESL students feel about speaking in English. They feel out of their league. They may think they ...
After teaching ESL for twelve years, I felt like a new challenge.
My school was struggling to hire ESL Business teachers, so I volunteered. I’m not trained in business or economics, but I f ...
After teaching ESL for twelve years, I felt like a new challenge.
My school was struggling to hire ESL Business teachers, so I volunteered. I’m not trained in business or economics, but I f ...
After teaching ESL for twelve years, I felt like a new challenge.
My school was struggling to hire ESL Business teachers, so I volunteered. I’m not trained in business or economics, but I f ...
Every teacher wants to have good classroom management.
But while some aspects of being a great teacher come naturally, keeping a controlled and encouraging classroom may not be so instinctual. Th ...
Not all conversation activities are created equal.
That’s not to say they aren’t all valuable. They are. But different conversation activities follow different conversation patterns, ...
If you are reading this article for the perfect formula for the perfect fill in the blanks lesson plan for you and your class, I’m not going to give it to you.
Don’t get me wrong. I w ...
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