As a teacher who teaches English to beginner students, one thing you should always consider is how your lesson can be fun and engaging to them. Your lessons should be able to tap on their interests while making sure that you’re helping them develop their language skills.
With that in mind, it is also important that you’re consciously aware of how you execute your lessons in class. Nothing comes in handy than a few teaching strategies that will help remind you of even the smallest actions that can greatly impact the way your students can learn in your class.
Here we list down five simple strategies you can include in your everyday to-do list in teaching beginners.
- Go slow with your lesson.
Remember, they’re beginners. You can’t expect them to learn quickly while they’re still having difficulty expressing their thoughts and negotiating meaning in English. If they’re absolute beginners, it might be best to start by introducing them to commonly used words, depending on the objectives you have set for that particular lesson. Sometimes teachers tend to go overboard by lumping students with so many discrete lessons that they forget who they’re dealing with. If your theme is family, then introduce simple words related to that theme.
- Keep the pace down throughout the class.
Speak slowly and clearly. Especially with ELL beginners, your talking speed can make or break your students’ capacity to understand everything you say. Enunciate each word clearly using a well-modulated voice. Avoid covering your mouth whenever you say something or when you ask them to repeat what you say, especially when you’re carrying a visual aid with you.
- Use visual aids.
Be it in the form of flashcards, realia or a Powerpoint presentations, using visual aids are a great way of engaging your beginner students and directing their focus into what you’re saying. You can also use real-life objects in teaching vocabulary or concepts such as verbs or adjectives.
- Practice repetition.
When dealing with absolute beginners, studies have shown that repetition helps students remember word and expressions. When you repeat, say, a command or an expression, you serve as a model for your students to follow.
- Learn a few basic words and expressions in your student’s first language.
Especially with your beginner students, you’re highly encouraged to use some of their basic words and expressions. You’ll find how useful it can be in some cases. It will also delight your students to hear you speak in their own language, which can then lead to the beginning of a good rapport.
Online tutors who are constantly exposed to beginner students learning English as a foreign language always deal with these best practices. Online ESL companies such as Acadsoc whose students are largely made up of Chinese students encourage their tutors to go back to these simple steps once in a while.
If you’re an online English tutor or plan to be one, remember these simple strategies for your future teaching experience. For more information about teaching English to students online, visit http://acadsoc.ph/ to learn more about what awaits you.
