ESL (English as a Second Language) needs to be taught in an active and interesting way, allowing students to participate in lessons and develop language skills to use in real situations. Any student can learn English words or grammar, but using language fluently, constructing sentences and understanding the English language in context (rather than simply repeating phrases) is much more difficult.

Engage in Lesson Content Discussions
Engage students in classroom discussions, keeping to the lesson content. These discussions can be during the lesson or as the lesson is finishing and should be on a strictly "conversational" basis rather than prompting academic conversations. Students should be encouraged to converse with peers in English throughout the lesson and encouraged to ask questions throughout.

Activity Based Lesson Content
Each lesson should involve students in an active lesson content, such as games, activities or role playing. Students will not be using English in a classroom everyday, so it is important to provide the opportunity to use English creatively and fluently. Classroom conversations, activities involving intuitive and independent thinking are key principles for effective learning.

Realistic Lessons
Lesson activities and content should be as close to reality as possible. Scenarios used in role play, for example, should be situations that are likely to occur in an English speaking country and students should be expected to respond appropriately to prepare them for speaking English outside the classroom.

Support and Challenge Students
Use "scaffolding" (the amount of help required by a student from the teacher at over the course of a few weeks to move toward independent learning) to gauge how much support some students need and base material around the rate of development. Simplify teaching methods when students require additional support but challenge students as students improve throughout the learning experience.

Intensive Oral Activity
All lessons should be based on intense oral speaking activities and classroom conversations. Even when English grammar or writing exercises are being taught students should still be encouraged to engage orally with each other or the tutor. Practice total immersion in lessons and encourage students to communicate only in English during lessons, even if other students speak in native tongue.

Praise and Encouragement
Praise students for performing well in lessons and encourage participation in all activities. Never criticize or discourage students, even when students perform poorly or are incorrect. Tell students there is another way to answer the questions or show how to improve an answer. Although some lesson content will require a right or wrong answer, students should still be praised for attempting the answer despite being incorrect.