We are in a new school year. We have new students, and they know very little English. They
will be sitting in our rooms every week to give them more exposure to our language. How can we be
good teachesr to students who barely understands us? How can we promote English to help them
not only in English class, but other classes as well? I think some of these techniques can help both
students and English teachers.

1. MAKE IT VISUAL
Students have a harder time processing spoken language. So instructions – even basic directions
should be written on the board whenever possible. Harder concepts should be diagrammed or
supported with pictures. And showing the steps of a process or showing students what a finished
product should look like can go a long way toward helping students understand. Sometimes showing
our students what to do is all they need in order to do it.

2. BUILD IN MORE GROUP WORK.
If we really want the kids to learn, they’ve got to be engaged.” That means less teacher-led, whole-
class instruction, and more small groups, where students can practice language with their peers in a
more personal setting.

3. HONOR THE “SILENT PERIOD.”
Many students go through a silent period, during which they will speak very little, if at all. I don’t
force them to talk if they don’t want to. A lot of students want to be perfect when they speak, so
they will not share until they feel they are at a point where they’re perfect. Some of the students will
try to speak in “broken English” to engage with the English teacher. Just knowing that this is a
normal stage in teaching English and should help relieve any pressure you feel to move them toward
talking too quickly.

Thank you for reading my blog. Until next time!!!!