49 ways to make your esl speaking class awesome

49 ways to make your esl speaking class awesome

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  49 Ways toMake your ESL Speaking Class Awesome Twitter: @bolen_jackie Website: www.eslspeaking.org Introduction:Introduction: Your job as an ESL instructor orYour job as an ESL instructor or teacher is very vital to the students.teacher is very vital to the students. English is a difficult language toEnglish is a difficult language to learn. Therefore, each student’slearn. Therefore, each student’s success in speaking fluent Englishsuccess in speaking fluent English depends on your effective teaching.depends on your effective teaching. Here are 49 great tips to successfullyHere are 49 great tips to successfully teach ESL in class.teach ESL in class.
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  No. 1 Change SpeakingPartners OftenChange Speaking Partners Often It’s boring to talk to the same person allIt’s boring to talk to the same person all the time! Avoid it as much as possible.the time! Avoid it as much as possible.
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  No. 2 Teach StudentsHow to Ask QuestionTeach Students How to Ask Question Take some off theTake some off the pressure offpressure off yourself to alwaysyourself to always be carrying the conversation.be carrying the conversation. Check out this video:Check out this video: Teaching Students to Ask Questions.Teaching Students to Ask Questions. ((httpshttps://://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DrhochWfSeEwww.youtube.com/watch?v=DrhochWfSeE))
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  No. 3 Join thisFacebook group if you teachJoin this Facebook group if you teach preschool kids: ESL/EFL Preschoolpreschool kids: ESL/EFL Preschool Teachers.Teachers.
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  No. 4 Big PictureFirstBig Picture First Give studentsGive students the big overviewthe big overview before you getbefore you get intointo the finer points.the finer points.
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  No. 5 Use Role-PlaysUseRole-Plays They’re fun,They’re fun, student-centered andstudent-centered and can help buildcan help build some confidencesome confidence in your students.in your students. I talk about using role-playsI talk about using role-plays in this short video.in this short video. httpshttps://://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a-e0FUoJhZkwww.youtube.com/watch?v=a-e0FUoJhZk
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  No. 6 Get thisbook:Get this book: 39 No-Prep/Low-Prep ESL Speaking39 No-Prep/Low-Prep ESL Speaking Activities: For Kids (7+)Activities: For Kids (7+)
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  No. 7 Play aWarm-Up GamePlay a Warm-Up Game How about Just a Minute?How about Just a Minute?
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  No. 8 Give someFeedbackGive some Feedback Your students will love itYour students will love it that you’re actuallythat you’re actually helping themhelping them get better at English speaking.get better at English speaking. Whenever I’ve done surveys,Whenever I’ve done surveys, many of my studentsmany of my students have listed this as theirhave listed this as their #1 expectation of me.#1 expectation of me.
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  No. 9 Use thetextbookUse the textbook You don’t alwaysYou don’t always need to reinventneed to reinvent the wheel.the wheel. There’s likelyThere’s likely lots of good stufflots of good stuff in the bookin the book that you can use in class.that you can use in class.
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  No. 10 Play someBoard GamesPlay some Board Games They’re guaranteed to get your students engaged, active andThey’re guaranteed to get your students engaged, active and having fun in English class. I talk about board games for ESLhaving fun in English class. I talk about board games for ESL students in this short video.students in this short video. https://https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w77wZLq0vpYwww.youtube.com/watch?v=w77wZLq0vpY
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  No. 11 Show andTellShow and Tell It’s not just for kids! Everyone can do it.It’s not just for kids! Everyone can do it.
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  No. 12 Practice SmallTalk with Your StudentsPractice Small Talk with Your Students Here’s my favorite ESL Small Talk ActivityHere’s my favorite ESL Small Talk Activity http://eslspeaking.org/small-talk-esl-activity/http://eslspeaking.org/small-talk-esl-activity/
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  No. 13 Provide ademonstration of theProvide a demonstration of the languagelanguage Students learn best byStudents learn best by seeing and then doing.seeing and then doing.
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  No. 14 Join thisFacebook group:Join this Facebook group: Resources for English TeachersResources for English Teachers
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  No. 15 Make InstructionsClearMake Instructions Clear Use ICQs (instruction checking questions).Use ICQs (instruction checking questions).
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  No. 16 Focus onCommunicationFocus on Communication If students can getIf students can get their message acrosstheir message across and be understood,and be understood, they’ve accomplishedthey’ve accomplished something.something.
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  No. 17 Get thisbookGet this book
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  No. 18 Use CCQ’sUseCCQ’s (concept checking(concept checking questions)questions)
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  No. 19 Don’t CorrectAll ErrorsDon’t Correct All Errors Students will getStudents will get frustrated and youfrustrated and you will too. Instead,will too. Instead, focus on thosefocus on those that involvethat involve the target languagethe target language for that lesson.for that lesson.
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  No. 20 Follow meon:Follow me on: @Bolen_Jackie@Bolen_Jackie
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  No. 21 Focus onFluency as well as AccuracyFocus on Fluency as well as Accuracy Have some activitiesHave some activities where the goalwhere the goal is to simply speakis to simply speak quickly and notquickly and not worry too muchworry too much about making mistakes.about making mistakes.
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  No. 22 Correct Errorsas a ClassCorrect Errors as a Class Instead of singlingInstead of singling someone out,someone out, you can sayyou can say at the endat the end of an activity,of an activity, ““I heard someoneI heard someone say XYZ, butsay XYZ, but it should haveit should have been ABC.”been ABC.”
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  No. 23 Use SurveysUseSurveys They are one of the best ways to get yourThey are one of the best ways to get your students up out of their seats and talking tostudents up out of their seats and talking to their classmates.their classmates.
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  No. 24 Praise LiberallyPraiseLiberally Students respondStudents respond well towell to positivepositive reinforcement.reinforcement.
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  No. 25 Follow thisboard on Pinterest:Follow this board on Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/jackiebkorea/teachttps://www.pinterest.com/jackiebkorea/teac hing-esl/hing-esl/
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  No. 26 Make aLesson PlanMake a Lesson Plan Use this ESL lesson planning template in thisUse this ESL lesson planning template in this site:site: http://eslspeaking.org/esl-lesson-planning-templatehttp://eslspeaking.org/esl-lesson-planning-template//
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  No. 27 Have yourStudents do a PresentationHave your Students do a Presentation Fun for you, useful for the students.Fun for you, useful for the students. (For presentation project Ideas:(For presentation project Ideas: http://eslspeaking.org/presentation-projects/http://eslspeaking.org/presentation-projects/))
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  No. 28 Play CharadesPlayCharades ((http://eslspeaking.org/charades-esl-game/http://eslspeaking.org/charades-esl-game/)) It’s a classic one for a reason!It’s a classic one for a reason!
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  No. 29 Get thisbook:Get this book: It’s available on Amazon!It’s available on Amazon!
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  No. 30 Use FlashcardsUseFlashcards For kids,For kids, fflashcards are pure gold in termslashcards are pure gold in terms of what you can do with them.of what you can do with them. ((http://eslspeaking.org/esl-speaking-game-for-kids/http://eslspeaking.org/esl-speaking-game-for-kids/))
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  No. 31 Incorporate listeningand reading intoIncorporate listening and reading into your classyour class It’s all tied together andIt’s all tied together and you can’t reallyyou can’t really become fluentbecome fluent in speaking withoutin speaking without a grounding in thea grounding in the other stuff.other stuff.
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  No. 32 Give StudentsThinking TimeGive Students Thinking Time It’ll make that discussion time even better.It’ll make that discussion time even better.
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  No. 33 Rock-Scissor-PaperRock-Scissor-Paper Kids loveit and you can also turn it intoKids love it and you can also turn it into a fun ESL Speaking Activity.a fun ESL Speaking Activity. ((http://eslspeaking.org/rock-scissor-paper-esl-game/http://eslspeaking.org/rock-scissor-paper-esl-game/))
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  No. 34 Help StudentsGet to Know EachHelp Students Get to Know Each OtherOther Use the “My World” introduction activity.Use the “My World” introduction activity. (http://eslspeaking.org/my-world-esl-speaking-activity/)(http://eslspeaking.org/my-world-esl-speaking-activity/)
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  No. 35 Encourage RespectEncourageRespect When you’re talking, everyone is listening.When you’re talking, everyone is listening. Same with another student.Same with another student.
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  No. 36 Encourage StudentsEncourageStudents It’s hardIt’s hard to speak into speak in English! PraiseEnglish! Praise even small efforts.even small efforts.
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  No. 37 Attend aConferenceAttend a Conference Learn a few new tips and tricks fromLearn a few new tips and tricks from experienced teachers.experienced teachers.
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  No. 38 Do theCELTADo the CELTA Learn how to teach so you can feel moreLearn how to teach so you can feel more confident in the classroom.confident in the classroom.
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  No. 39 Read Howto Teach SpeakingRead How to Teach Speaking By Jeremy Harmer, it’s a classic for thoseBy Jeremy Harmer, it’s a classic for those new to teaching ESL.new to teaching ESL. (http://eslspeaking.org/how-to-teach-speaking/)(http://eslspeaking.org/how-to-teach-speaking/)
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  No. 40 Use ToiletPaper in Your ClassUse Toilet Paper in Your Class Click to know HOW:Click to know HOW: http://eslspeaking.org/ice-breaker-speaking-activity/http://eslspeaking.org/ice-breaker-speaking-activity/
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  No. 41 Teach yourStudents about RelativeTeach your Students about Relative ClausesClauses Here’s a fun game you can play to practiceHere’s a fun game you can play to practice themthem (http://eslspeaking.org/relative-clause-speaking-activity/)(http://eslspeaking.org/relative-clause-speaking-activity/)
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  No. 42 Learn aLanguage YourselfLearn a Language Yourself Remember whatRemember what it’s like toit’s like to be in thebe in the student’s shoes.student’s shoes.
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  No. 43 Like ESLSpeaking on FacebookLike ESL Speaking on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/eslspeakinghttps://www.facebook.com/eslspeaking All kinds of ideas for your ESL speakingAll kinds of ideas for your ESL speaking classes.classes.
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  No. 44 Maintain aPositive AtmosphereMaintain a Positive Atmosphere Don’t let studentsDon’t let students make fun ofmake fun of other studentsother students for their poorfor their poor English abilityEnglish ability in your class.in your class.
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  No. 45 Make itStudent-DirectedMake it Student-Directed Let them have a say in the topics you study.Let them have a say in the topics you study.
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  No. 46 Smaller Groupsand Pairs is BestSmaller Groups and Pairs is Best Maximize student talking time by generallyMaximize student talking time by generally avoiding discussions with the entire class.avoiding discussions with the entire class.
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  No. 47 Teach Formaland Informal SpeakingTeach Formal and Informal Speaking Students will need to know both, dependingStudents will need to know both, depending on the circumstance so point this out, ifon the circumstance so point this out, if relevant.relevant.
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  No. 48 Don’t InterruptDon’tInterrupt If students areIf students are doing an activitydoing an activity with a small groupwith a small group or partner,or partner, just observejust observe but don’t get involvedbut don’t get involved in the conversation.in the conversation.
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  No. 49 Draw aPictureDraw a Picture It’s a classicIt’s a classic ESL speaking activityESL speaking activity http://eslspeaking.org/draw-a-picture/http://eslspeaking.org/draw-a-picture/
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  These are just49 of the many ways to make your ESL Speaking Class more interesting, not to mention awesome! You might find them a lot and overwhelming but there is just one thing that I would like you to remember: Make your teaching a 2-way street—speak and listen to one another. ConclusionConclusion Twitter: @bolen_jackieTwitter: @bolen_jackie Website: www.eslspeaking.orgWebsite: www.eslspeaking.org