One of the skills I teach in my listening class at the low beginner level is how to recognize and interpret idioms. It is also a good opportunity to review clarification questions which the students learned at the beginning of the course. For example: “I’ve got a lot on my plate!” – “What exactly do you mean?” It is always helpful to introduce idioms related to a topic – for example, “food” idioms. I particularly […]
Teaching Diphthongs
This is the last class on American English vowels. Previously, we covered all vowels. Below are a few simple steps I take to introduce diphthongs to my students: Explain the meaning of the word “diphthong”. Present the list of words with the five diphthongs. Students listen and repeat after me. Students read the words out loud as I walk around the classroom, listen and correct them if necessary. Diphthongs are not the most difficult sounds […]
One or Ones or A?
Every semester I teach on a chapter that introduces the use of one and ones. My son, age 2, gave me the idea one day to use his Megablocks in class. Megablocks are similar to Legos, but they are very big. They come in all different colors and shapes, which makes them perfect for this lesson. Directions: Buy or bring Megablocks (or something similar that can attach together). Bring them to class. Grab several different […]
Adjectives, Gerunds, Infinitives Board Game: Identifying Parts of Speech
This activity takes place as a review after students have learned adjectives, infinitives and gerunds. Cut up the parts of speech cards. You will need a game board for each small group and enough dice for each group to use one. Students get into small groups with the cards face-down and a player piece on “Start” (I have them use a tiny piece of paper with their initials on it). A player rolls the die, […]
Writing a Well-Developed Paragraph: Intermediate
This activity takes place after an initial lesson on topic sentences, concluding sentences and supporting details. As a warm-up activity at the start of class, students do a quick interview where they ask three classmates what their special skill is that makes them great to work with (see handout). Divide students into groups of four or five. Once in groups, ask students which person in their group said they were a good leader or always […]
Reading Practice: Jobs, Level 1
This is a reading adapted from Readworks.org that is a nice accompaniment to World English Intro, Unit 2: Jobs Around the World. This reading takes place ideally after students have been taught how to look up words in a dictionary. After students have done World English Intro, Unit 2, p. 16, students are given the reading handout and advised to look up the meaning of the words in the back (words 2-6). Then, students read […]
Superlatives Greeting Card Assignment
After learning and practicing superlatives in World English 2, Unit 4: The Body, students complete Part 1 of this assignment in class. Students write a message for a birthday or anniversary card using as many superlatives as possible. The instructor goes around the room and checks their sentences, giving them feedback on their use of superlatives. Students do Part 2 as homework, and submit an actual greeting card. You will get some really creative work! […]
Adverbs of Frequency: Notes for the Babysitter
This is an activity I use with my beginning ESL students (ESL 215, Level 1). It is used with World English Intro, Unit 5: Daily Activities. We work with a limited number of adverbs: always, often/usually, sometimes, never. This activity takes place after teaching the students the adverbs in a prior lesson (World English Intro, pp. 60-61). For the first box, advise students to fill in their cell phone numbers (I always tell them no […]
Listening for Requests/Noticing Language AKA Eavesdropping
I have created several listening handouts for students to examine how people make requests. The idea behind this activity is for students to start realizing that people don’t speak like the textbook and people make choices in their pragmatic requests. It also builds students sense of discovery. Original idea adapted from Scott Phillabaum. First step: Ask students how people make requests or ask for things. Second step: teach them ways to make requests. Third step: […]
World English 1 Paragraph Packet
This is a homework packet with prompts for each unit. Paragraphs are due at the end of each unit. These topics are related to the chapter. Students in my class were assigned to do this in addition to other assignments. I believe that having them practice writing at home improves their writing in the class. It could also be a springboard for in-class discussion for common student errors. Example: Unit 2 is about holidays and […]