How to Teach English as a Second Language
The English language is fast becoming the language of choice for business, trade, and international relations. Knowledge of the English language is also necessary for naturalization in many English-speaking countries, like the United States. If you want to teach English as a second language (ESL), here are some tips to help you out.
What is ESL?
With over 300 million native speakers, the English language is the fourth most common language spoken in the world (behind Mandarin Chinese, Hindi, and Spanish). The historical influence of British and American culture all over the world makes English one of the most important languages in communication. Today, schools in almost every country in the world teach the English language to make students more competitive in the global field.
ESL is a way to teach non-native speakers the English language. ESL is often taken up by adolescents and young adults who want to seek employment, citizenship, or higher education, but do not have the aptitude and skill in English necessary for their goals. ESL courses then prepare them for the knowledge needed to pass requirements like citizenship tests, and language examinations like the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) and the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL).
Kinds of English
While a student or an applicant would probably ask to be “taught English,” there are two kinds of English that can be taught through an ESL course:
Formal English is English taught with the conventions of grammar, spelling, and other technical aspects of English. It is often taught to students who already know the basic rules of English, but want to polish their skills or pass advanced language examinations.
Conversational English is English taught to non-native speakers, or to people with little to no knowledge of English. Conversational English teaches students how to construct simple sentences that also teach them the basic rules of grammar and spelling.
ESL Training
Almost anyone with a knowledge of English can teach ESL, although accreditation and training is often needed to teach the course to a non-native speaker. Many schools and training centers offer ESL teaching courses, where you can get a certification for ESL training and teaching. Some schools and training centers may also offer part-time or full-time teaching positions if you plan on making ESL a source of income.
Teaching Tips
Teaching ESL can be a rewarding job, but it can also get quite challenging. Here are some tips to help you teach ESL effectively:
Know the differences. English is structured in a very different way compared to other languages. If you know the differences between the speaker’s first language and the English language, you can design your course to be taught in a more effective way.
Start simple. Some ESL students may get impatient with the course and want to get to more advanced lessons in English, but it’s best to start with small things like phrases and the basic conventions of grammar and spelling. Refresher courses can also help people who already know basic English to sharpen their skills.
Context builders like essays, articles, or short stories can make learning English fun and easy. While reading texts, students can also explore ways to improve their grammar, spelling, and other technical aspects of the English language.
English is an important language to learn, especially in a globally competitive environment. With these tips, you can help students learn and use English to get ahead in life.