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Incorporate Authentic Material in Your Classroom

Using authentic material in your lessons can stimulate and capture the imaginations of your students. Original and native material such as newspapers, maps, brochures, menus and magazines are some ideas to bring real world language into the classroom.

Challenge Your Students with Task Based Lessons

Involving your students in real world tasks will help reinforce new skills and encourage the practical use of the language. Reading and comprehending a utility bill or a shopping receipt are some ways to motivate and enhance language learning.

Be a Guide on the Side, Not a Sage on the Stage

Student centred learning can go a long way in the classroom. Help stimulate student curiosity and encourage confidence by acting as a facilitator or guide and deliver lessons that reflect your interest in student experiences and learning skills.

Create an Enjoyable Learning Environment

Encouraging laughter and self-correction of mistakes in the classroom can help promote a positive learning environment that is safe and risk-free. Avoid criticism and judgement.

Remember the 80-20 Rule

Talking less and letting your students do 80% of it in class can reinforce speaking and listening skills in language learning. Encourage pair or group conversation after every lesson highlighting grammar points, new vocabulary and life/cultural experiences.

Monday, May 1, 2023

ESL Topic: Sleep

May 12th is International Fatigue Syndrome Day. This day is set aside to recognize the fact that sometimes life can make us feel tired and worn-out. It is also a day to create an awareness on how sleeping problems and disorders can lead to serious health issues. Your ESL students might find this to be a familiar and interesting topic to discuss as they can talk about their own sleeping problems, habits and routines!

Tuesday, April 4, 2023

Happy Easter!

There's plenty of Easter vocabulary and traditions for your ESL students to learn about this week - starting with Good Friday on Friday, April 2th and Easter Sunday on April 4th. Have your students learn more about this religious celebration as well as the commercial side of Easter including the Easter bunny, chocolate goodies and the joys of Easter egg hunting!

Find recommended links for your ESL students here!

April Themes and Topics

It's April and for many of those living in the North, it means warmer temperatures, spring birds and blooming flowers! Get your students starting the month off with a joke or two on April 1st as it's April Fool's Day across the globe followed by EASTER! There's plenty of other spring topics to keep your students busy starting with spring cleaning, spring allergies, spring flowers and spring weather. Get them busy learning more about International Pink Day on April 13th and World Earth Day on April 22nd, too!

Find more ideas on teaching topics this month here!

Tuesday, February 28, 2023

International Women's Day

International Women's Day is March 8th! This year's theme, Embrace Equality, challenges stereotypes, fight bias, broaden perceptions, improve situations and celebrate women's achievements. Various events and traditions will be taking place to honour and celebrate women's rights and achievements worldwide. Take the time to explore this global event with your ESL students and get them talking about the progress made, as well as the struggles that many women still face today.

See YouTube video - International Women's Day 2023

What is International Women's Day? Watch here!

Friday, February 10, 2023

February is Black History Month

February is Black History month in Canada, the U.S., and the United Kingdom. Be sure to get your ESL students learning more about the activities, events, and the important figures in black history.

See recommended links on Martin Luther King and the Civil Rights Movement here.

February Suggested Themes and Topics!

February is a busy month providing ESL teachers with lots of planning topics. Be sure to check out February Topics and Themes and follow ESL Made Easy for weekly posts on some of them. One fun topic is Valentine's Day coming up on February 14th. The days leading up to it can be a good time to talk about other topics such symbols and customs, love and relationships and special gifts such as chocolate and roses. February is also Black History month which is observed not only in Canada, but in the U.S. and the United Kingdom. It is a special month to honour the experiences and legacies of those who became an important part of black history.

Other mentionables are Canada Flag Day, President's Day, and Levi Strauss's Birthday!

Wednesday, January 4, 2023

Happy New Year!

New Year's customs, traditions and celebrations can help generate some lively classroom discussions with your ESL students. It's also great for working on past & future tenses by discussing key personal or global events from this challenging year 2022 as well as plans and possibilities for 2023!

Warm Up Questions:

1. How did you spend Dec 31st, 2022? Was it different from previous years?
2. Do you celebrate the coming of a new year in your country of origin? If so, what are some traditions and customs that mark New Year's Eve/Day and the start of the new year in your culture?
3. For many people, a new year represents a time for making positive changes in their lives. What do you think are some common resolutions/goals that people make? Why do you think it might be difficult for some people to stick to these resolutions/goals? What advice would you give?
4. Did you create any resolutions/goals last year (2022)?
5. Do you have any resolutions/goals for this year (2023)? If so, have you created a plan for achieving them? What about your friend and family members?

Tuesday, December 6, 2022

December: Suggested Themes and Topics

Be sure to take a peek at some of the suggested topics and themes for December here! The main theme of course will be the holiday season - decked out in colorful lights and cheery decorations! However, you may also want to discuss a bit about the history of December 25th and focus less on the commercial side of it. Depending on where you are, your students will most likely be surrounded by an abundance of holiday festivities, Christmas carols and red and green symbols in their community......so don't be afraid to get them all into the holiday spirit too - especially this year!

ESL Made Easy

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Featured Posts

Incorporate Authentic Material in Your Classroom

Challenge Your Students with Task Based Lessons

Be a Guide on the Side, Not a Sage on the Stage

Create an Enjoyable Learning Environment

Remember the 80-20 Rule

Monday, May 1, 2023

ESL Topic: Sleep

RECOMMENDED LINKS FOR ESL STUDENTS AROUND THE TOPIC OF SLEEP:

May Themes and Topics

Tuesday, April 4, 2023

Happy Easter!

Find recommended links for your ESL students here!

April Themes and Topics

Tuesday, February 28, 2023

International Women's Day

RECOMMENDED LINKS AROUND THE TOPIC OF INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY:

March Suggested Teaching Topics

Friday, February 10, 2023

February is Black History Month

February Suggested Themes and Topics!

Wednesday, January 4, 2023

Happy New Year!

Warm Up Questions:

Recommended Links Around the Topic of the New Year:

Tuesday, December 6, 2022

December: Suggested Themes and Topics

RECOMMENDED LINKS AROUND THE TOPIC CHRISTMAS FOR ESL STUDENTS:

Awesome FREE ESL Sites Worth Sharing!

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