Developing good ESL teaching techniques will allow your students to learn more quickly, to speak more fluently, and will help you, the teacher, maintain an efficient classroom. In the past, ESL was commonly taught through textbooks, repetition and translation, However, since the 1970s, ESL teaching techniques have evolved, leading more teachers to embrace the direct and audio-lingual methods. The direct method involves learning English as the native language was learned, by listening and association. The audio-lingual method involves learning common phrases and substitution vocabulary. Each method of teaching ESL is different, but all methods involve certain fundamental techniques.

Speaking
Require that your students speak English in the classroom. If students are true beginners, you may allow them a day or two to learn some basic phrases and classroom vocabulary before enforcing your English only rule. The more students speak the language, the more quickly they will learn. Model each new word for students by speaking it naturally, then ask students to identify the syllables, accent, and to repeat the word. Reading passages aloud in class will also help with speaking skills.

Vocabulary
Avoid translating words. Students should be able to identify the word through a photograph, pantomime, a description in English or by context. Many English words do not have a direct translation and could cause students to become confused. When a word is unknown to a student, ask the rest of the class to help with the word. Pair or group work is good for vocabulary work, as different students will know different words, and they can help each other before their work is graded. Dictionaries are invaluable resources, as well, so students can quickly look up the spelling or meaning of a word.

Reading
Practice your students' reading skills before you worry about writing. Have your students read short passages individually or aloud. Use level appropriate passages with basic vocabulary to begin, and slowly build up complexity. The passages or stories should be about subjects that interest the students. A 10-year-old will not be interested in the same things as a 30-year-old.

Writing
Use creative writing articles to inspire students to use new and more descriptive words. Writing newspaper articles about current events, rewriting passages that the class has read, and writing short biographies all give students a way to express themselves while practicing English writing skills. The topics should be interesting, age appropriate and diverse to maintain the interest of every student.

Eliciting Information
Eliciting information allows you, the teacher, to the gauge your students' understanding so that you can focus on the areas that need work, regardless of which aspect of ESL you are currently teaching. You can also have students read a short passage that includes the lesson's vocabulary words and ask them to underline or write down any words they don't know. You might also consider setting aside several minutes for questions after each activity.

General Tips
Adjust your lesson pace to the class. If students are having difficulty with one lesson, spend a little extra time on it. If students know a lesson well, move on to something new. Monitor your students by eliciting information from them and by observing the classroom. Walk around the classroom during activities, especially spoken activities, and listen to your students' progress. Most importantly, keep your teacher talking time, or TTT, to a minimum. Give concise instructions and, whenever possible, allow your students to do the talking.