Q&A for How to Teach English As a Second Language to Beginners

Don't be too hard on yourself—teaching as well as learning a second language can be difficult! Try to focus on making your lessons as accessible as possible by speaking in simple language, employing a variety of different teaching strategies in the classroom (like gestures and fun visuals), and checking in frequently to see if they understand the lesson topic.

Encourage her to use a language-learning app, like Language Drops or Duolingo. These apps are often structured in fun, bite-sized lessons that might be appealing to your mom.

You could always use pictures to show her the basic words. It might also help if you make a list of basic sentences translated from her language to English. Print the sentences and let her study them.

Think about what you like to do or what would help you. Do not treat them like children, and make sure that you are explaining things clearly to them so that they can learn.

Use pictures of the words for basic things like signs, food, animals, colors, and shapes. Repetition is key. As students learn the basics, move on to harder words.

That's a natural part of the process of learning a new language. You can help by suggesting appropriate words when they hesitate.

Teach him basic English first. Try to learn and teach him English words and phrases that will interest him. For example, if he likes basketball, teach him how to say things about basketball. Work your way up to advanced phrases and he will get the hang of it. Another great tip is to watch English movies that will interest him, and put on the closed captions.

This scenario is unrealistic to learn to speak English in a month. Teach them in the same way we speak to children learning to speak. Present objects, saying the name of the object clearly. Have them repeat the word. Then, give the object to them, saying "I give you the _____". Motion for them to return it, saying, "Give me the ______". You can now make your lesson plan. Your class will be fun. Review a lot. Also use simple sentences. "Hello, students!" "Hello, teacher." "Please sit." "Please get up." (motioning accordingly) "Student." "Teacher." Practice speaking slowly, clearly, and simply. You are lucky if you don't have to teach reading and writing at the same time.

Make learning fun. Maybe learn the language and make games for her to learn also. Make fun rewards and give her tests once or twice a week.

Try using visual learning tools, such as pictures and symbols that are universal. Proceed slowly, and repeat things multiple times.

You can begin the first day with simple assignments of written work, such as "Discuss a happy experience you had this summer." As you get a sense of your class's homework strength, you can build it slowly and fit it to their needs. The homework you give should always be a review of what was taught during the day. The beginning days of schools can focus on school and classroom rules and include a writing sample. Then slowly introduce math. Also, try to gauge how long their assignments take them. You don't want your class spending hours on something if it's too hard, so plan on being flexible.

Try not teaching them words that are out of the ordinary and don't follow normal spelling rules so as not to overcomplicate the lessons in the early stages of learning. You can teach them these words after they have a solid foundation of the language.

That's why you give tests. If you want to know immediately, ask them to explain the concept(s) to you right after you've explained it to them.

The bare minimum should be 2,500, but preferably a lot more. An ESL teacher should be essentially fluent in the language.

If you are fluent, you are their best resource. Keep talking to them in English. If you have access to any English-language publications or websites, have them read those and verbally discuss them with you.

For the reading lesson, choose a book or passage that everyone can relate to so they will want to participate. It's also good to have pictures of the words so they will associate the words with the pictures.

This is quite hard as many teens use their phones a lot these days for entertainment, instead of reading. I would ask what their interests are in order to find books they enjoy. I would start with ones they'll definitely like, even if they're easier to read, otherwise it may put them off books entirely if the books are too challenging. It's also useful to read the book to them and show them parts of the film it's based on if there's any.

It sounds like the job is already half done. Let them continue to read as much as possible, and then quiz them verbally on what they've read.

It would be very difficult to teach anything via telegram. If you can't meet with students in person, then using online resources would be a better choice.

See Speak English .

If you can demonstrate a thorough knowledge of the subject, and if you can do so in a friendly, helpful and humble manner, you should have no problem!

Apparently language acquisition doesn't require those skills, because 2- and 3-year-olds are especially adept at accumulating a vocabulary and learning syntax.

See Become a High School English Teacher and related articles.

Teach it simultaneously, not one after another. For example, you can tell them the pronunciation of the letter "a" and then make them pronounce the word "apple" and have them write. This way they will be comfortable with reading, writing, and speaking.