ESL Articles and Information

ESL/EFL Articles- English as a Second Language (ESL)

Articles for the English Teaching Community

Teaching ESL to Children

Teaching ESL to children is challenging but also very rewarding. Before I walk into a class of 10-year olds, I take a deep breath. Children have no attention span AT ALL, and so I tell myself to slow right down before I start. Teaching children requires patience and a sense of fun and playfulness. Even though it seems obvious, a common mistake is to think that children are simply 'short adults!' This is sure to get you off on the wrong foot!
Benefits Of Children Learning English As A Second Language

There is a preponderance of evidence that points to the benefits of children learning English as a second language. However, choosing to raise a bilingual child is something that requires a great deal of thought, preparation, and time. As a result, it is a decision that is very personal and will affect the child's life for years to come. The following paragraphs will explain the benefits of children learning English as a second language and how online English courses provide what other programs may lack.
English As A Second Language

The English language is the most commonly spoken language on Earth, either by native speakers or by people who have learned it in addition to their first language. More and more people everyday have the desire to learn English as a second language.
Discover How To Appeal To Your ESL Students

Learning English as a second or foreign language can be difficult for some students. There are several different ways to learn, and many people benefit from a wider approach than the traditional methods employed in most classrooms. Adding games and activities that appeal to all the different ESL learning styles along with your standard curriculum can transform your lessons and make the time more productive for all!
Idioms in Learning ESL

The Oxford English dictionary defines idioms as a group of words with a meaning of its own. These are phrases, which meaning has already been institutionalized.
Using Circle Time in ESL Classrooms

Many ESL teachers may not be familiar with the idea of circle time. It is a part of lesson, usually the first thing that you do, where the concepts are repeated on a daily (or weekly) basis. It's generally used in preschool or early elementary school classes, but it can be quite effective for use in the ESL classroom.
5 Steps to an English Only Classroom

There are many benefits to having only English spoken in your ESL classroom. The most apparent thing right off the bat is the level of noise and chatter drops dramatically. All of a sudden, when students are required to use English, that hot topic they wanted to talk about doesnt seem so important. There are other, more substantial benefits to an English only classroom.
ESL Role-Play

Learning a language is a complex and long process as anyone who has tried will agree. One of the most difficult and frustrating things is making the transition from the classroom to the 'real' world. In the classroom, everyone knows you are a student and mistakes are allowed, and the environment is contained and safe.
6 Tips To Help You Get Hired As An ESL Teacher
English is the worlds most widely-used commercial language, and in the 21st century, being able to speak good conversational English is almost a prerequisite for success. There are, consequently, many countries where those who can effectively teach English as a second language are very much in demand.
What Do All the ESL Acronyms Mean?

Every industry has its acronyms and Teaching English is no exception. If you are new to the world of language teaching, you may very well find these a tad confusing. Let me run through most of the acronyms you are likely to come across in ads for teachers and education articles:
Discover How To Appeal To Your ESL Students\\\' Learning Styles

Enrich your ESL lessons with an understanding of learning styles and how to implement activities that appeal to all styles. Traditional teaching methods tend to neglect kinesthetic and tactile learning styles and are often dry. Find out what you can do as a teacher to reach out to all your students and be a more effective teacher, while massively enlivening your classes.
Addressing Virtual World Scepticism (Second Life)

Addresses virtual world scepticism regarding steep learning curves, in particular the array of challenges confronted in Second Life by language learners/teachers...
Cultivate Curiosity in English Students

English teachers should cultivate student curiosity and nudge them to become autotelic - or self-directed. The author, an English professor in Los Angeles, suggests a few simple techniques that gently push students to take more responsibility for their own development as English language learners.
How To Be An Entertaining ESL Teacher

When I first started teaching English abroad my students sometimes complained that my classes were boring. Most beginning teachers get those kind of complaints. It actually took me about a year and a half, even close to two years, before I got beyond that stage.
Get Accustomed To The Importance Of Learning A Second Language
Standing on the brink of the globalized world with much common global interests, the importance of learning a second language has become almost a necessity. With so many different languages globally, knowing a second language can give you an edge in a multilingual world.
Educators Report Immersion is Making our Children Ill
No child, not yours, not mine, nor the child of someone we do not even know, should ever have to go off to school feeling anxious. Perhaps it is the first day of the school year jitters or knowing that you will have to take a spelling test for which you are not prepared. Nervousness over school does happen some days for some children.
Second Language Learning Made Simple

You need not count the reasons why learning a second language is an advantage. Impressing your crush with a pick-up line laced with French is surely one. Nowadays, the opportunities for business, friendship, and even romantic relationships have become limitless. If only you can beat that language barrier, you may even be lucky to find girlfriend materials from all over the globe.
Tips For Teaching Reluctant Readers and ESL Students

Get Their Attention in 5 Easy Steps - Tips For Teaching Reluctant Readers and ESL Students
English language Conversation Classes
English Conversation Classes can be designed for the number, age, level and interests of the students. English Conversation Classes can be designed for the type of conversation, subjects of the conversation, topics and sub-topics of the conversation.
7 Major Factors to Consider During Language Translation

Translation is an important factor in bringing people and businesses across the world closer together. Etymologically speaking, "translation" refers to "bringing across" or "carrying across". Thus, with the help of translation, one can break language barriers which often hamper effective communication.
Teach English as a Second Language

One of my favorite things to do is to travel. I love getting to explore the world, from China to Israel to France and beyond. It gives you a chance to learn new cultures, meet people you'd never have encountered in your every day life, and expand your horizons both personally and professionally.
Second Language Learning Theories, Myths and Facts

Second language learning refers to the learning of a new language besides the native language. There are many second language learning theories that aim to explain the way second language is learnt and which approach is the best. A brief explanation of these theories is presented.
Composing a Quality ESL Teacher Resume

Teaching English as a second language is a division of education that is continually growing. Teachers wishing to acquire a job in education may be more likely to do so if they look for a job in an area such as ESL or ESOL. The competition for ESL jobs is usually not as stiff as the competition for regular classroom teaching jobs.
Fun Facts About Malaysia - Education Transformed the Country!

From an economical perspective, Malaysia is one of the most industrialized countries on the continent of Asia. By the 1970s and 1980s, the economy was highly developed and Malaysia boasted one of the highest economic growth rates on the planet. By that time, it expanded its educational system very fast.
ESL Teaching Tips - How to Work With Read-Alouds

Read alouds represent an effective form of strategy intervention technique where students are taught "skills [but] within the context of language" (Strickland, 1993). Teachers can start with reading big books aloud as many as three or four times a week for ten minutes. Creating the conditions for interaction has implications for bridging oral and early literacy instruction.