Teaching adult ESL with no materials or time?
Here’s what works when nothing else does.
Most recent posts:
- Teach Vulgar Vocabulary to Your Adult ESL Students
C’mon. You know this. Your adult ESL students are not living in a sealed, expletive-free terrarium. They’re at work, on public transit, watching TV, scrolling social media, and hanging out with native-speaking friends. They hear things. They just don’t always know what those things mean, or whether the person who said it was being friendly or terrible. - Hey TpT Buyers, Are You Leaving Perks on the Table?
Teaching adult ESL and getting great resources from TpT? Here are some TpT tips for buyers that you might not know but really should.
Older Posts:
Three Destructive Myths About Digital Devices in the Classroom
Your students are scrolling. Right now, someone in your class is checking their phone while you’re mid-sentence. You know it. They know you know it….
TED Talks Aren’t Just for Advanced ESL Students, So Here’s How to Use Them with Everyone Else
I used to think TED Talks were only for my advanced adult ESL students. You know, the ones who could already hold their own in…
The Amazing Power of Role Plays in Adult ESL
Role plays made this happen: A giant voice roared out of the young woman many never even noticed was in the classroom. She gestured as…
Teaching Idioms: Why Your Adult ESL Students Need Idioms…Even If You Think They Don’t
I was sitting in my graduate program class, getting my M.Ed. in TESL while teaching full-time, when one of my international student classmates got visibly…
Three High-Impact Activities for Teaching Facts and Opinions in Adult ESL
“Teacher, this article says coffee causes cancer. But last week, different article says coffee prevents cancer. Which one is truth?” I looked up from my…
Practical Pet-Themed Language Activities for Adult ESL Classes
Pets are everywhere in your students’ lives. Dogs on Instagram. Cats in memes. Coworkers talking about their rabbits. Neighbors complaining about barking. Rental applications asking…
Jobs and Careers: Making Adult ESL Speaking Practice Matter
Your adult ESL students probably already have jobs but want better jobs and careers. Or maybe they’re worried about keeping their jobs. They could be…
Fall Activities for Adult ESL: When Reality Doesn’t Match the Hollywood Version
“Teacher, when do the trees turn colors?” My Saudi students were sooo ready for fall activities. They’d seen the pictures online. The Instagram-worthy leaf tunnels….
Stop Selling Academic Vocabulary. Start Selling This Instead.
My co-workers and I used to hash out the same problem over and over: How do you convince students that passing the TOEFL or IELTS isn’t…
The Discussion Group System That Saved My Sanity
All right, picture this…you’ve carefully arranged your discussion groups ahead of time. You’ve balanced your chatty adult ESL students with the quiet ones, mixed high…
Short I and Long E Sounds: 4 Engaging Activities for Adult ESL Pronunciation
Look, we all know why we teach Short I and Long E sounds. Nobody wants their students accidentally talking about going to the “b*tch” when…
2 Fun Superlative Adjective Games That Don’t Feel Like Grammar Class
Looking for superlative adjective games that actually engage adult ESL students? I’ve got two for you – one that feels like a game show, and…
5 Smart Ways to Use Music in Adult ESL
Using music in adult ESL classrooms gets reactions. Even the grumpiest student with their arms crossed and their hood up is still listening. And when…
Create Listening Labyrinths Using Minimal Pairs: A Step-by-Step Guide
I’ll never forget watching Ahmed confidently grab a marker when I handed out the first of the listening labyrinths of the term. “You want a…
4 Fun Simple Past Activities for Adult ESL
You’ll want to try these four fun simple past activities with your adult ESL students! Whether your students are just now dipping their toes into…
New? Start here.
Need lesson ideas now?
Teaching Specific Groups
Browse by Skill Area
Need Ready-to-Use Materials?
Browse my Teachers Pay Teachers store for printables, activities, and resources that save you hours of planning.
