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!
As ESL teachers, we are responsible for coaching our students towards better and improved pronunciation.
But it is also our responsibility to coach them in better ways to study and practice on th ...
When people used to ask me at parties what languages my students spoke, I would tick off some of the common languages that might be spoken in a single ESL classroom in California: Spanish, Vietnam ...
You don't have to go it alone when creating lesson plans for an individual student.
Follow these three tips for one-on-one lesson plans that will lead you to providing substantive classwork and e ...
How many times have you walked into a classroom and the class was noisy and not paying attention and you thought ‘I wish I knew how to get through to them’?
Have you doubted your less ...
If you’re an ESL teacher like me, you’re always on the lookout for new listening material.
If you’re an ESL teacher like me, you feel the CD that comes with the coursebook is ...
You don't have to be the odd man out simply because you are the only person in your class full of people that doesn't speak the native language.
Follow these 3 techniques to connect with students ...
Recently there have been more teacher concerns with students who have a surfeit of self-esteem rather than a lack of it.
Teacher staff rooms are rife with tales of the demands and inflated view o ...
Classroom management skills require teachers to remember a lot of details and specific techniques.
It's also important to remember those attitudes and behaviors that have no place in your managem ...
Almost everyone likes music. Though different people have different musical preferences, almost everyone likes one sort or another, and very few people find no melodies that appeal to them.
And i ...
I’ve had a young man in my integrated skills ESL class for a couple of semesters now - I’ll call him “Juan” - a class made up of mostly Latino/Latina migrant farm workers a ...
Teaching ESL one on one can be challenging. Traditional lesson plans often won’t work with a two person classroom, and the dynamic between you and your student is completely different from t ...
One day I was preparing my students to go out and survey university students on campus. We were reviewing tips for speaking with native speakers.
Me: “What do you say if someone says somet ...
Relative clauses present a new, more complex way for students to express themselves.
Examine these 3 constructive ways to reinforce relative clauses in writing and speaking, and your students wil ...
Proper pronunciation is vital to your ESL students’ success.
Pronunciation plays a very important role in communication – for your students to communicate effectively, they must speak ...
If you choose to take the plunge and perform some one-on-one tutoring lessons, don't go it alone.
Use these 5 strategies for owning and enjoying your one-on-one lessons.
How to Own One-to-One ...
Inject new energy into your lessons and develop fresh ways to motivate yourself and inspire your students.
Explore these 3 strategies to reach and inspire each and every learner in your encounter ...
ESL students struggle with a lot of things.
Many of these they can practice with the use of self-study materials. They can do as many grammar exercises as they want; they can work with audio and ...
As English teachers, we know how to listen. But not many of us have taken listening classes, at least not in English. How then does a person teach listening when she’s never had a listening ...
In the past, classrooms were often all about the teacher. This “sage on the stage” was there to offer what he or she knew, and it was up to the student to make the most of it.
These d ...
Effective communication is a two-way street. ESL students must understand others when they speak English.
But they must also make themselves understood. For ESL students who struggle with pronunc ...
Idioms in general are a momentous and exciting development in every learner's experience.
Food idioms provide substance everyone can relate to and enjoy. Your students will definitely devour thes ...
Impulsive behavior of students can be a great problem for any teacher. It distracts the whole class, disrupts lectures, and can be a hindrance to the learning process.
Teachers must be able to un ...
Proper English pronunciation can be a big problem for some ESL learners and more difficult for some students than for others. A student’s native language determines, for the most part, the d ...
One lofty goal of many advanced-level ESL students is to gain employment in an English-speaking workplace.
If this is the focus of one of your groups, there is a lot you can do to develop listeni ...
Creating questions in the right format continuously can be a stumbling block for students.
Give your students a head-start by following these 3 ways to work on the critical skill of question crea ...
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