ESL Teaching Tips

Are you new to the English teaching world? Wondering how you're going to make it through your next class?

I know. I've been there. In fact, I'm currently taking a break from teaching due to the frustrations that naturally arise. On this page, I've collected a few of the tips that I've learned over the years.

  A good friend of mine gave me what I consider to be the two best pieces of teaching advice I've ever received. He said:

"Remember, they're just kids." When you see 8-year-olds day in and day out, you start to forget that they've only been on this planet for 8 years. They're little more than products of their environment. They're kids! They're cute! They're fun! It's important to remind yourself of this periodically.

"Remember, you're the adult." Oh, yeah, I almost forgot. It's my duty to set the rules and make sure they follow them. If they're behaving badly or not learning, at least part of the blame is mine. It's okay to have fun with the kids - it's quite important, in fact - but you have to be the disciplinarian, the responsible one, the leader, the mentor, the old guy. . . . the adult.

Enough plagiarizing my friend. Here are a few tips to remember.

Tip #1 - Don't Get Angry. If I get angry, I lose. I don't enjoy my day. My class ceases to be productive. I become a bad teacher. If I'm in a bad mood, I have to check it when I walk in the class. There are ways to deal with bad behavior - humor, rules, etc. It's VERY useful to have an angry voice - a loud, deep voice that will shock the students when need be - but don't actually get angry. It helps nothing. If you follow this rule, you will automatically enjoy teaching more.

Tip #2 - Have Fun. I try to start each class by just talking to my kids and goofing around. I make fun of them; they make fun of me. It kills a little time, and it's an all-English environment. Just have fun. Be a kid for a few minutes. Have an ugly face contest. Let everyone dance for 30 seconds. Be silly. The kids will stop complaining to their parents about how boring class is.

Tip #3 - Remember That They Are Not Native Speakers! What seems to be insubordination or a bad attitude or laziness can often be explained by the fact that the kids are not, in fact, native speakers. It requires a lot of attention for a kid to sit there for one or two hours and try to understand every word that comes out of your mouth. It's tiring. Cut the kids some slack. 

Tip #4 - Structure Your Classes - Kids often respond well to structure. It may help to give a structure to your classes. For example, start every class by writing the names on the board; then have everyone answer a question; then have them take out their books and read; then have them write workbooks; then review phonics; and finally, if there's time, play a game (teacher says, or whatever). If your class always follows the same pattern, the kids will know what to expect and they will stop shouting "Play a game!" every time there is a lull in conversation.