Teaching Tips
Advice and how-tos for use in the classroomStory mapping for ESL lessons
Chris Parker
A quick guide to story mapping and how to teach this popular method to ESL students to improve their reading comprehension skills
Guided reading: a powerful tool for teaching reading skills to ESL learners
Chris Parker
Step-by-step guide for teachers explaining how to help ESL students improve their reading skills by teaching them cognitive strategies using a guided reading approach
Teaching English language learners effective communication strategies for interpreting
Sean Hopwood
Empower your students
How inquiry-based learning can enhance your ESL lessons
Chris Parker
A step-by-step guide that explains how to apply the inquiry-based learning approach to ESL lessons, with tips for selecting materials
Sheltered instruction for teaching ESL
Chris Parker
A detailed guide covering the concept of sheltered instruction, how it works in ESL classrooms, and specific strategies that utilize this concept
What is the NGSL and how can I use it teaching English?
Chris Parker
A guide discussing the New General Service (vocabulary) List, its benefits for students and teachers, and practical ways to apply it in the classroom
Teaching media literacy to Business English students
Chris Parker
Covers the concept of media literacy and how it can add value to your Business English lessons or serve as a standalone service to offer to your students
How to use teaching proximity to control ESL classrooms
Chris Parker
A guide that explains the concept of teaching proximity, as well as how to use it to more effectively manage misbehaving students. The impact of desk arrangements and classroom layout on teaching proximity is also covered
Flipped classroom: approaches for ESL teachers
Chris Parker
A detailed guide covering the flipped classroom approach and its many benefits, as well as steps on how to set it up for the first time in an ESL setting
How to use reciprocal teaching to boost ESL reading comprehension
Chris Parker
A five-step guide that describes how the reciprocal teaching approach helps students to improve their reading comprehension skills and how to carry it out in an ESL classroom
Differentiated instruction: how to use it in the ESL classroom
Chris Parker
A guide explaining differentiated instruction, how it works, and how to use it to teach struggling ESL students or those with varying English skill levels
Use cognitive load theory to improve your (ESL) teaching
Chris Parker
An article discussing the theory of cognitive load and how it affects student learning, as well as tips for using it to your advantage in an ESL classroom
How to teach math to ESL students
Chris Parker
Useful strategies for teaching mathematics to non-native English speakers while also teaching new math vocabulary in English
Tips for teaching English to students with learning disabilities
Chris Parker
Tips for effectively teaching ESL to students with learning disorders who may be struggling, and how to address all of their different needs and interests
Needs Analysis: a Tool Every ESL Teacher Should be Using
Chris Parker
The benefits of needs analysis with a detailed guide on how to carry it out, as well as a description of Bloom’s Taxonomy and other assessment methods
REALIA: Real-Life Materials Every Teacher Should Be Using
Chris Parker
An informative guide that explains the concept of realia, provides examples, and covers multiple realia-based activities for all ages and levels that can be used in ESL lessons
4 Tips to Help You Teach Business English
Chris Parker
Whether you’re just starting out as a Business English teacher or have already taught it and are simply looking for ways to improve your teaching practices, here are four tips to help both you and your clients
Why You Should Be Using the Inductive Approach to Teach ESL
Chris Parker
The inductive approach is one of the most effective yet underutilized approaches for teaching English
Student Motivation
Sarah Richard
Go Beyond the Candy
10 tips and tricks for teaching English as a second language
Sean Hopwood
In this post, you’ll learn some of the best tips for teaching the English language
Tips for Instructional Design for CLIL in the EFL Classroom
Robert Mcbain
This article relates to integrating content and language in particular EFL instructional design of lessons and materials.
Tips for Integrating ESL Students
Emma Cowan
Advice for secondary-school teachers in English-speaking countries to help them integrate ESL students into their classes.
5 Communication Skills That Every Online English Teacher Must Have
51Talk
In this article, you will find the top communication skills that you must develop to keep your students engaged and be an effective online English teacher.
How Does Learning a Language Affect the Brain, and How Can Teachers Harness the Benefits?
Jason Bakkum
Learning another language can boost brain plasticity and increase empathy, critical thinking and problem-solving skills. How can teachers harness this?
10 Best Cities for Teaching English in Asia
Tate Nanje
When deciding to teach English abroad, the cities that you choose make all the difference in terms of experience and quality of life. Here are my ten best cities.
Body language across cultures – a short etiquette guide for TEFL teachers
Rachel Rowland
A look at what you, as a TEFL teacher, might need to consider before communicating in some of the most popular destinations around the world.
Individualization
Dariga Kenzhebayeva
Let this imaginary English teacher explain what you need to know about individualization
Creating a Lesson Plan That Gets You to Your Destination Every Time
Renae Ghrist
Learn the five basic components of an effective language lesson.
5 Ideas for Teaching English One-on-One
Raquel Thoesen
Individualized instruction provides a unique opportunity to truly engage a student in a lesson. Here are a few ideas to help you teach one-on-one!
Taking In
Ruth Ticktin
A reflection on mutual understanding between teacher and student
Learning a foreign language will make you a better teacher
Andrew Forrester
Why a course on teaching English might include Japanese lessons—and what you can do even if it doesn’t^^
Separating teaching from your private life
Andrew Forrester
Andrew Forrester explores the perils of mixing business with pleasure
Assessment and Evaluation Ideas
Yesica Galliano
A look at strategies for assessing and evaluating students considering a specific group
If It Can Be Done At Home, Don’t Do It In Class
Alex Case
How to stop wasting class time.
Using Memory in EFL Classes
Alex Case
Using and expanding students’ memories while studying English as a foreign language.
First Lessons for Academic English Classes
Alex Case
How to start English for Academic Purposes classes in a pleasant and useful way.
Movement In Adult Classes
Alex Case
When and how to use TPR-like activities with adult learners.
How To Deal With Difficult Questions From One-To-One Students
Alex Case
Students often use the freedom of one-to-one classes to ask too many unimportant questions or questions the teacher can’t answer off the top of their head. This article offers some solutions.
Native Speaker Myth: Death, Burial and Funeral of a Fallacy
Editor
A video about the native speaker myth.
Alternatives To Spoken Error Correction
Alex Case
Other ways to improve accuracy for the many times when simple correction of oral errors isn’t the best way.
How To Teach Formal And Informal Language
Alex Case
Practical ideas for teaching polite language and friendly language.
Names In The English Language Classroom
Alex Case
Issues associated with the use of student and teacher names in class.
Teaching Names
Alex Case
Practical tips on bringing up the topic of names in the ESL classroom.
Dealing with dominating students
Alex Case
Activities and classroom dynamic techniques for coping with students who take over
Politically correct language in the EFL classroom
Alex Case
Suggestions for bringing the topic of political correctness into class in interesting ways, and for dealing with PC issues when they come up naturally
Gender in the language classroom
Alex Case
Classroom issues connected to gender and interesting ways of using that topic in classes of various ages
Noises in the English classroom
Alex Case
How to use real and pretend noises to liven up the class, make the language memorable, and teach a useful emergency communication technique
Student Interest Survey
Tara Benwell
Questions to ask when your classroom is feeling lifeless
Respect in the Classroom
Shelley Vernon
You know from your own time at school that there were some teachers who you just did not mess around with.
Treat your Students to a Quote-of-the-Day
Tara Benwell
Use quotes as icebreakers, warmers, discussion topics, vocabulary lessons, and more…