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.

Teaching English to an elder with no prior learning experience requires patience and a simple approach. Focus on everyday words, speaking before reading and writing, and use pictures and gestures for understanding. Start with the alphabet and simple words, repeating them daily. Teach words related to real-life situations, and be patient, encouraging small progress.

Speak clearly and slowly, use simple words, and incorporate pictures, charts, and real objects to explain ideas. Additionally, act out words or use gestures to show meaning, repeat key points in different ways, and ask students to repeat, explain, or act out what they learn. Relate lessons to their everyday experiences, and use songs, games, and role-playing to make learning fun.

To teach Basic 4 students to match individual cards, use an interactive approach. Prepare two sets of cards: one set with words, letters, numbers, or pictures, and another with their matching pairs. Demonstrate how to match a word to its correct meaning or picture and allow students to work in pairs or groups. Turn it into a game with points for correct matches and encourage students to explain their choices for reinforcement. Repeat with different sets for more practice.

Teaching English to students who can't read or write in their native language requires patience and simple methods. Use pictures and symbols to connect words to objects. Teach basic speaking first with greetings and common phrases. Focus on phonics and letter sounds. Introduce letters gradually with tracing and flashcards. Make learning hands-on with objects and gestures. Repeat lessons daily for better memory. Teach common sight words. Use songs and stories to build confidence. Keep lessons fun with games. Be patient and celebrate small progress.

To improve your writing, try these steps: 1. Read regularly to learn sentence structure, vocabulary, and writing styles. 2. Write daily by keeping a journal, writing short stories, or summarizing what you read. 3. Start with simple sentences before adding complex ideas. 4. Edit and revise your work for grammar, clarity, and flow. Reading aloud helps. 5. Get feedback from others or use online tools to check grammar and style. 6. Study grammar and structure to organize ideas clearly. 7. Imitate good writing by copying well-written sentences to understand structure.

Start with a warm-up activity, introduce the topic with examples and visuals, engage in guided practice, allow for speaking and application, and conclude with a review and feedback.

Start with basic literacy skills by using the alphabet with flashcards or writing in sand. Label common objects in the house with everyday words to improve vocabulary. Teach phonics and sounds with simple words like "cat" and "sun." Use pictures and symbols to aid learning, and practice writing by starting with their name, then small words and numbers. Keep lessons short and repetitive for better retention.

To start private English lessons at home, plan your approach. Choose your target student level—beginners, intermediate, or advanced. Set up a quiet, comfortable space and gather teaching materials like books and flashcards. Plan lessons that include reading, writing, speaking, and listening. Advertise your services locally and decide on pricing and schedule.