Teaching The Teacher To Improve Their English Lessons
Posted on April 30, 2009
Filed Under Learn Spanish CD, Learn Spanish Online | Leave a Comment
For someone trying to learn to speak English, a patient and engaging teacher can be invaluable. While online learning and auditory language programs do provide adequate English lessons, a good instructor can help build a student’s confidence and make the learning experience more enjoyable. Think back to your own school days. Did you not learn better when you were excited about the material? In this article, we have some advice for English as a second language (ESL) teachers that will help them reach their students.
Your job as an educator begins before you even meet your students. As you plan your curriculum, think of ways to make the students want to learn English. Make your lessons exciting, visual and fun. This will engage your students. You should also consider who the English as a second language (ESL) students are and the unique challenges that they face. When you meet them they may initially look at you like you have grown a second head. Don’t worry! You may be the first English speaking schoolteacher they have ever met. Give them time to get to know you.
As a teacher, the toughest challenge you can face is getting your students excited about the course material. For your purposes, you want the learners to find English interesting and fun. The best way to do that is to show them how their newfound vocabulary can be used. Perhaps they can visit an online English chat room to speak to people with common interests. Have the students perform skits of common situations like ordering a meal in a restaurant. Anything that will put the English lessons into real life situations will help the students.
As you are going through a lesson, check periodically to make sure that your students are in fact comprehending the material. Don’t just ask them, as they may be afraid or embarrassed to admit that they are struggling with the lesson or language proficiency. Ask some friendly but pointed questions to make sure they are absorbing the lesson. For instance, if you are learning the names of animals, ask someone if they’ve ever seen a lion or a tiger in the zoo before. If you are learning colors, go around the group and ask them to say what their favorite color is. Personalize the question so that it is relevant to each individual. This often encourages group discussions which is a wonderful atmosphere for learning.
Studies show that students respond better to an educator who is dynamic and entertaining. This does not mean you have to put on a Broadway show every time you walk into the classroom, but do try to make the material interesting to the students. If you are teaching young children, then use lots of pictures, music and color. If you are a teacher of adults, use skits, flash cards and group discussions to put a practical spin on what they students are learning. You will find that students can learn to speak English in less time and with less effort if they enjoy the program of study.
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