[General] Teaching ESL

[rebeccaleo]

I am an ESL learner as well, but I was asked to teach English, and I would like to know how to start teaching. I would rather say that it is EFL, but I dont want to start teaching with translations, so, how could I start teaching the basics of english, if the persons dont speak a bit at all?

[The French]

Originally Posted by rebeccaleo

I am an ESL learner as well, but I was asked to teach English, and I would like to know how to start teaching. I would rather say that it is EFL, but I dont want to start teaching with translations, so, how could I start teaching the basics of english, if the persons dont speak a bit at all?

Hello, I'm 'The French'.

I think there is no good rules for learn English.

I began to learn the basis of English grammar, and I made a lot of test but I am sure the best way it's to pratice all days a little English.

Try to read English newspapers, it's not easy but if you want to improve your level, it is the good way.

Have a nice day (Buena tarde de Francia).

[ICAL_Pete]

There are many teaching methods you can use to teach English. Grammar Translation is only one of them. Using the student’s Mother Tongue (MT) is simply not necessary. Using examples, pictures and other non-verbal means of communication allow you to negotiate meaning without slipping back into the MT.

You can read more about this and find ideas for simple and effective activities in the ICALwiki

[marthafromsf]

As ICAL_Pete said, pictures are very useful. You can gather pictures from magazines and point at the pictures and teach the English words for each object. You won't have to translate anything into Spanish. If the picture is right there, it will be obvious what it is!

To teach students who don't know any English, you can start by teaching some simple conversations that they might use in daily life. Think of situations that happen every day, and make up a short dialog. Then demonstrate it and the students can practice it.

Hello! My name is ____________. What's your name?
My name is ____________. Nice to meet you.
Nice to meet you, too.
or
Hi, how are you?
I'm fine, thanks. How are you?
Fine, thanks.
or
Where are you going?
I'm going to the store. Where are you going?
I'm going home.
OK, see you later!
Goodbye.

In my opinion, it's more important to teach the students some words and sentences that they can use in real life, rather than worry about explaining grammar or rules to them.

I hope that helps!

Martha