As a former English language teacher, having spent time working with schoolchildren in Spain in addition to being an ESL tutor for
the Frost School of Lawrence while he was in high school, Will
Heikkinen knows that teaching English language learners offers an array
of challenges, some of which aren’t always going to be present when you
are teaching students who are already proficient in the language. To
stand the best chance of success, try to keep all of the following
pointers in mind to ensure your students get the most out of their
lessons.
Learn Their Language
During the early days of your lessons, you are going to find that many of your students struggle with the basics of English and may wish to ask you questions using a language that they are more comfortable with. By learning the language that your students speak, you are not only better placed to answer such questions, but you also demonstrate the real-world applications of learning a second language. This can be a motivating factor for many of your students, pushing them to place more focus into their studies.
Always Practice
You need to make sure that students cover the full gamut of learning the language during your lessons. As such, you must structure your lessons so that students spend time reading, writing, listening and, perhaps most importantly, speaking the language. This offers a comprehensive learning set to your students, ensuring they become well-versed in all aspects of the English language and allowing them to develop competence faster.
Be Encouraging
As an English language teacher, you are going to find that some of your students are very wary about practicing their skills, especially if they feel uncomfortable when speaking amongst their classmates. As such, you need to strive to create a collaborative environment that offers encouragement to all of the students, regardless of their levels of progress. This can be done in a number of ways, such as taking time out to answer questions, encouraging class discussions and pairing students off so that they can talk with their classmates in the language. Furthermore, you should always offer praise to students who are doing well, while also working diligently to offer extra encouragement and help to those who might be struggling.
Speak Slowly
It may seem like a simple tip, but Will Heikkinen points out that many who are new to English language teaching tend to speak at their natural speeds, instead of slowing things down a little bit to ensure that their students get to hear proper pronunciation and can actually take their time when translating what their teachers say. Make sure that you don’t mistake speaking slowly with speaking louder, as the latter can come off as condescending.
Learn Their Language
During the early days of your lessons, you are going to find that many of your students struggle with the basics of English and may wish to ask you questions using a language that they are more comfortable with. By learning the language that your students speak, you are not only better placed to answer such questions, but you also demonstrate the real-world applications of learning a second language. This can be a motivating factor for many of your students, pushing them to place more focus into their studies.
Always Practice
You need to make sure that students cover the full gamut of learning the language during your lessons. As such, you must structure your lessons so that students spend time reading, writing, listening and, perhaps most importantly, speaking the language. This offers a comprehensive learning set to your students, ensuring they become well-versed in all aspects of the English language and allowing them to develop competence faster.
Be Encouraging
As an English language teacher, you are going to find that some of your students are very wary about practicing their skills, especially if they feel uncomfortable when speaking amongst their classmates. As such, you need to strive to create a collaborative environment that offers encouragement to all of the students, regardless of their levels of progress. This can be done in a number of ways, such as taking time out to answer questions, encouraging class discussions and pairing students off so that they can talk with their classmates in the language. Furthermore, you should always offer praise to students who are doing well, while also working diligently to offer extra encouragement and help to those who might be struggling.
Speak Slowly
It may seem like a simple tip, but Will Heikkinen points out that many who are new to English language teaching tend to speak at their natural speeds, instead of slowing things down a little bit to ensure that their students get to hear proper pronunciation and can actually take their time when translating what their teachers say. Make sure that you don’t mistake speaking slowly with speaking louder, as the latter can come off as condescending.
