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!
As we all know, social media is here to stay.
Can you name someone who hasn't used it in one way or another? These computer-mediated tools are simply incredible. They allow people to create, shar ...
I'm sure you would all agree that teaching our ESL students writing skills is undoubtedly necessary.
After all, it goes without saying that writing is a way to communicate as well. Business stude ...
I'd like all of you to think about the following question and if possible answer it truthfully. Do your kids enjoy the lessons you provide? Are they anxious for you to start the lessons and get th ...
Have you ever used the game Reversi or Othello, which is similar to the Japanese game Go, to teach grammar?
This simple game has players flip tiles repeatedly to show either the black or white si ...
Everyone knows you’re a busy teacher.
If you weren’t, you wouldn’t be here looking for easy ideas to teach language to your ESL students. But just because you are busy doesn&rsq ...
There’s one in every class: that “eager beaver” who always has his hand in the air, who is always the first to speak, who goes on at length on the topic, and who tends to dominat ...
All English students have similar needs, but if you are teaching a business English class, your students will have more.
Not only will they have the needs that come with language learning, they w ...
Culture permeates everything we think and do.
Everyone is influenced by culture. The thing is, not everyone can pinpoint what beliefs, assumptions, and values come from their culture. In fact, if ...
I hate to sound cynical, but my students, all “digital natives”—that is, those who have grown up with technology and have never known a world without the internet—become cu ...
There has always been at least one student in class who seems to have enormous problems following directions.
If you ask for an essay, she writes a poem. If you ask for it submitted to the class ...
There are, believe it or not, those students who still don’t have a home computer.
There are also those who don’t have an email account, don’t post on Facebook, or own a smart p ...
Whether you are teaching a class specifically to prepare for the TOEFL or TOIC or you simply include some element of test preparation in your classes, simulating test conditions is important for g ...
One of the most difficult grading concerns is assigning a grade for “participation” or “group discussion.”
Accurate and fair grading for participation and discussion is im ...
Papers tend to pile up when you’re a teacher.
This is especially true for the English teacher or other teachers in the habit of assigning multipage essays throughout the term. Just when you ...
Believe it or not, nonnative speakers whose English is nearly impeccable can still stand out because of their speech. Grammar, pronunciation, vocabulary…all of these can be perfect, but you ...
Many teaching strategies today involve having students get up from their desks, circulate, and interact with their peers.
This trend is due to a change in teaching philosophy and recognition that ...
It can be surprising to laypeople, those outside of education, that adults can have behavioral problems in the classroom.
There is, however, a generic “student” behavior that even adu ...
Most people study English for a reason.
Many will go on to further their education in English speaking schools and countries. Others will use what they learn in your classes for business purposes ...
We all like to have fun, and for many the most fun of all is going to an amusement park.
There are awesome rides, indulgent foods, and laughs all around. Many ESL students love going to amusement ...
The idea of creating your own games for ESL classes might seem intimidating.
After all, don’t professionals work hard to make games that people will love and want to play? And don’t t ...
There has been a movement in recent years against actually using of the student textbook in class.
This may be in part because students can’t or won’t read textbooks, especially ones ...
The jury has deliberated and their decision is clear: the ability to write with a pen is absolutely vital, encourages brain growth, aids memory and raises grades.
For me, the debate is over, so I ...
There has been a focus and interest on more “creative” teaching methods in the classroom for the past forty years or so, since the sixties and seventies with their myriad social change ...
Viral videos, snarky memes, and a cat that is so grumpy it puts all other crabby felines to shame, these are but a few of the pop culture elements that make millions drop what they’re doing ...
Are you looking for a no-prep activity that doesn’t require special materials?
Try one of these language exercises that need nothing more than some scrap paper.
Try These 7 No-prep Games ...
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