Teaching English as a Second Language (ESL) requires organization, interaction and accommodation. ESL teachers and volunteers need the organizational skills to plan each lesson according to each student's individual needs, paying attention to student-to-teacher and student-to-student interactions. As students practice English in the four language domains -- reading, writing, speaking and listening -- the teacher must choose an approach for the students' needs, whether the students are in a pre-kindergarten or adult learner classroom.

Life Skills
According to the Center for Adult English Language Acquisition (CAELA), the basic ESL level focuses on daily living. Lessons may feature reading grocery store fliers or making a matching game between a word and a picture. These activities are appropriate for students in elementary school and for adult learners who a beginning their English language studies. Other life skill lessons include working with money and a "Who am I" guessing game featuring the names of famous Americans.

Family Approach
Allot time for the parent to co-plan an activity to use with the child. For example, a parent can make a "How I Look" booklet for their four- to five-year-old child and learn words such as sad, happy and angry. This activity encourages the parent to spend time together with the child while learning. In addition, a take-home library of children's literature enriches the reading experience of both parent and child.

Cultural Literacy
Facilitate learning about the United States and other countries in the classroom. From finding who is on American money to the reason for the thirteen stripes and fifty stars on the U.S. flag, students of all ages benefit from learning American history as children work toward mainstreaming into the regular classroom to say the Pledge of Allegiance or as adults to prepare for the American Civics exam.

Workplace/Career
ESL adults in the workplace need the skills in speaking and listening to follow specific directions, such as "You pressed the red button on the right, right? " Written directions are also important for sequential jobs that require following written directions, such as "Preheat the oven to 350 degrees, place the cake in the oven and set the timer for 20 minutes."

Technology
Teachers can use technology, such as a tool like PowerPoint, but they can also teach students how to use technology themselves. Whether they are writing an email to a friend or boss or creating their own PowerPoint presentation, students need technological skills to complement their growing English competency.