A teacher of English as a Second Language (ESL) students must take a different approach to teaching basic subjects. ESL students are simultaneously learning a second language and a skill set in a particular subject, making the mental load twice as intense. Present ESL methods use basic common sense to make the learning experience more effective and enjoyable for ESL students.

Comprehension

Use visual aids for each new word, idea or concept. Print out pictures, make posters, use objects or draw ideas on the board.

Make a vocabulary list of important words before each lesson. As the class achieves understanding of words, cross them from the list, but continue to use them repetitively. Supplement with the visual aid. Change your speech to assist comprehension. Speak slowly, emphasize and repeat.

Stop moving forward when students appear to fall behind in understanding. Never force production. A prolonged "silent period" is normal for many ESL students.

Early Speech

Make a list of "yes/no" questions, such as "Is this sweater red?"

Make a list of "choice" questions, such as "Is this sweater red or pink?"

Make a list of questions that can be answered with a single word, such as "What is the woman wearing on her head?"

Make a list of questions that encourage the use of several new words, such as "What pieces of clothing is the woman wearing?"

Make a list of sentences with missing words for students to fill in, such as "The woman is wearing a skirt, but the man is wearing a _____." Use these lists as students begin their early speech phase. This slow progression makes the learning environment nonthreatening. These methods are considered open dialogues and guided interviews in the ESL program.

Speech Emergence

Create language games to use in class. These games will break the ice and help students participate in class discussions. Pre-made language games are available online free of charge.

Prepare simple passages for students to read aloud. Find and print copies of simple reading material. Have students take turns reading aloud for about one paragraph.

Use a multimedia approach. Find television commercials, movie clips, music and radio programs to use with students.

Facilitate group discussion. Make group discussion conversational, not like a drill. Talk about something that excites your students, such as a new video game or popular song on the radio.

Have students create skits or projects that must be presented in their second language. Skits or projects can be about the culture of their first language, but should be articulated to the class in English.