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!
“I have a group of adult learners, and while they’re good students generally speaking, they never do the homework I assign. There’s a good reason I give them homework; I believe ...
Reading class can be so much more than just opening a book and turning pages.
The more fun your students have with written English, the more exited they will be to read. And excitement is a great ...
“I’ll be teaching adult learners after years of experience teaching only kids. Games were the backbone of my classes with young learners, so my main question is: should I play games wi ...
In this article you’re going to read about story-driven English language teaching, and as this term is quite jargon-like, I’ll refer to it as ‘AdventurEnglish’ instead.
It ...
The first step in learning a language, and English is no exception, is getting to know the rules and patterns that it follows. Once a person has that down, it’s time to learn all the expecta ...
If you are a busy teacher, and aren’t we all, the words quick and easy are like music to the ear. That’s true for just about anything, and class activities are no exception.
The follo ...
Kids these days love their technology.
In my school we have to take away their cell phones at the beginning of the day or they will never listen to a word we say. While you can debate the merits ...
TOEIC is a common test that many workplaces require in order to test their current and potential employees’ knowledge of English.
Unlike other language based exams it only consists of readi ...
“Where can I find videos for ESL learners I can use in class? I mean the kind that is specifically developed for students, not original American or British series, TV shows or movies.” ...
Extreme weather events are everywhere.
Who hasn't been affected by one in one form or another? Whether it's extremely cold or hot, wet or dry, our weather conditions are changing drastically and ...
You’re a busy teacher. Your to-do list is running off the page, and you’re running off to class. Sometimes a grab and go activity is just what you need.
That’s why these activit ...
Quick! You have no time to prepare but need to fill a few minutes in class… You want your students to get some speaking practice in, but you just don’t know where to start…
Yo ...
Your ESL college students may be ready to hit the books, but there are other ways that they may need to get prepared.
What about eating in the dining halls, taking notes and hanging out in the do ...
No matter what the age or level of your ESL students, they must be able to talk about household dangers for safety reasons.
For some of these activities, you will need to think about the age of y ...
Monologues, information lines, phone messages, announcements and radio documentaries are just a few of the things that learners taking FCE for schools may have to listen to.
Teachers always have ...
Managing student participation is a big deal in the ESL classroom, and maximizing it is no easy task.
Many of our ESL students are even reluctant to participate. They are perfectly content with a ...
Most writing classes today come with a standard writing rubric.
A “rubric” is a grading standard which breaks down the grade into several categories: “excellent,” “g ...
Flowers are blooming, and summer is just around the corner.
It must be May. Here are some language building activities that celebrate this sunny month and also build language skills in your ESL s ...
A lot has been written about diverse classrooms and their advantages.
From many years of experience as an instructor in diverse classrooms, I can attest to this: there is nothing quite as energiz ...
nHave you ever wondered about the extent to which your beliefs about teaching ESL influence your day to day work?
The truth is that self-reflection is one of the most powerful tools en route to b ...
“I’ll be teaching my first ESL class soon, and I’m eager to get started on my planning, but several other teachers have told me it’s important to “get to know” ...
If you are teaching beginning ESL students, you might struggle to find reading activities that are fun and level appropriate.
These games are perfect for the younger or inexperienced English stud ...
You know your students should practice their English over their vacation or break from class, but you have little time to coordinate vacation activities, and students seem to lack interest.
A 2-D ...
Going to the movies is fun for everyone.
You can use these fun activities as an opportunity to teach your students more English, as well as teach them about typical routines and conversations abo ...
There is a lot about social interactions that can make quite a few of us anxious.
Moreover, when those interactions are with people from other countries. Now put yourself in your students' shoes. ...
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