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!
Whatever specific reason your students are studying English, they are studying with a purpose in mind.
They will use what they know to communicate their thoughts and ideas to other speakers of En ...
ESL students come from a variety of backgrounds and age groups. They have different needs, interests and face their own challenges when it comes to learning a second language. Yet they all have on ...
We’ve all woken up for a busy day of teaching and discovered that we feel terrible.
There’s nothing worse than teaching all day with a sore throat or a headache, and heading into scho ...
We are called “teachers”, but have you ever asked yourself if your job is to “teach”?
Would you rather “teach” your ESL students or “help them learn&rdqu ...
Imagine that you’re preparing a lesson which includes five new pieces of vocabulary.
You have a lot of choice as to how you might convey this information to your students:
You might verb ...
My father used to tell stories of teachers who threw things at their students and screamed at them when things didn’t go to plan.
Happily, for most students around the world, those days are ...
English is the language to know for business these days.
Though it may not always be the case, English in business is the reason so many internationals come to the U.S. or other English speaking ...
Whether your students are studying English for academic purposes or for use in the business world, it’s very likely they will have to work with other people, speaking English, to accomplish ...
Are you one of those people who likes to sit with a cup of coffee and the daily crossword puzzle to start your day?
There are probably fewer people who do start the day that way than who don&rsqu ...
Stress.
You and your ESL students are probably familiar with the stresses of life on the English language learning roller coaster. And while that kind of stress can change how you understand what ...
Our image of a great communicator is someone who speaks powerfully and eloquently, but also of someone who is animated and mobile.
A statuesque public speaker might inspire us with his content, b ...
Whether you’re a hard-hitting public speaker, a shrinking violet, or just someone hoping to gain a little insight, debates are a terrific ESL practice opportunity.
They involve all of the f ...
The issues raised by technology and the Internet seem to be ideal areas for study in the ESL classroom.
Many of our students are young, and so are both surrounded by technologies with which they& ...
Stories are utterly magical, wouldn't you agree?
They whisk us off and away to far away lands. Page after page, word after word, we delve deeper and deeper. We are transported to amazing places a ...
The most amazing thing happened on the first day of my CELTA course.
A very experienced and gifted teacher walked in and spent an hour teaching us to use Turkish - a language of which none of us ...
If your school gave you the choice between teaching a beginner, intermediate or advanced group, which would you choose?
All of them seem to offer their own rewards. The intermediate group already ...
We use English in all kinds of situations from the first time we meet someone until the last time we say goodbye to them.
These everyday situations are the basis for these simple role-plays for E ...
Many schools overlook its importance, but the opportunity to observe your colleagues’ teaching can be very valuable.
Observations can result in our learning new methods and finding solution ...
ESL teaching comes with its fair share of success stories, as well as trials and tribulations.
Adventures or mishaps, setbacks or causes for celebration, there are many things worth sharing with ...
Are you one of those people who couldn’t make it through the day without a list of ‘Things to Do’?
I confess that I am. Without my list, I’m much less likely to get things ...
Of all the habits we try to foster in our students, punctuality ranks highly for being relatively easy to encourage, but broad-ranging in its positive effects.
If we consider how most societies v ...
Today’s society is a politically correct one.
With just one simple choice of language, speakers can either offend their listeners or endear them to themselves. For some ESL students, choosi ...
If you've taught business students, I'm sure you've noticed they have specific needs when it comes to ESL lessons.
The reason for this is because there are specific situations they typically go t ...
Picture that classic image of a stressed, exhausted teacher, sitting at their desk.
I’ll bet there’s a huge pile of grading, waiting impatiently for their attention, carrying with it ...
I’ll be honest, right from the start: I’m a huge advocate for science learning and for an appreciation of our place in the Cosmos.
I believe it’s important that our students fin ...
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