Teaching grammar to English as a second language (ESL) students can be very difficult. English has many rules of grammar that are tricky and problematic for many students who are speakers of foreign languages. Teachers often rely on several resources or teaching materials to teach English grammar to ESL students.

Textbooks
Textbooks are one of the more common resources used in many classes. Teachers often prefer textbooks because they typically have concise, easy-to-understand lesson plans. Many ESL textbooks have many examples of the rules and irregularities of English grammar. A good choice for a textbook for teaching grammar to ESL students is "Interchange," Third Edition. It has a self-study listening guide, a full textbook syllabus, communicative talking activities and a full pronunciation guide. "Interchange" is for beginners up to upper-level intermediate English speakers.

Computer-Assisted Learning Programs
Computer-assisted learning programs are educational computer programs that ESL students can use to learn English. These programs often have unique exercises and games that engage and encourage ESL students. One example of a computer learning program is 1,000 Phrasal Verbs in Context. Many verbs in English are irregular and difficult to remember, and may even have different meanings depending on the context of the conversation. 1,000 Phrasal Verbs in Context is aimed at teaching the correct rules of grammar for verb usage. It features 2,000 example sentences, grammar notes and tips, and links to hundreds of interactive lessons.

Movies
One way to teach English grammar to ESL students is to practice speaking and learning in real-life situations. One popular method to do this is to have students watch popular movies in English and have activities based around the conversations in the movie. Movies offer contextual support for grammar rules, relevant and real-life discussions to engage students in material, and reinforcement of irregular verbs and other difficult grammar subjects. Many movies are available online and come complete with activity workbooks.

Educational ESL Websites
The web is an invaluable source of learning materials for students of almost all subjects. One effective way to teach grammar to ESL students is to have them look at several educational ESL websites. Many of these websites offer activities, games and quizzes designed to increase students' knowledge of grammar rules in English. One example of an educational website is Activities for ESL/EFL Students. This website has a variety of games, quizzes and lesson plans for ESL students of all backgrounds, and has quizzes ranging from very easy to very hard.