Teaching adult ESL with no materials or time?
Here’s what works when nothing else does.
Most recent posts:
- The Vocabulary Game that Flopped and How I Fixed It
You know that game where someone shouts out a letter and a category, and you race to think of a word that fits? My family used to play a version of it, and we loved it. Competitive, fast-paced, lots of laughing when someone blanked on an obvious answer. So naturally, I tried it with my… Read more: The Vocabulary Game that Flopped and How I Fixed It - Your Adult ESL Students Have Gaps and That’s Completely Normal
I need to tell you something that might make your day easier. You know those gaps your students have? The ones where you’re teaching present perfect and suddenly realize half the class is shaky on simple past? Or you’re doing passive voice and someone raises their hand to ask what a past participle is? Those… Read more: Your Adult ESL Students Have Gaps and That’s Completely Normal
Older Posts:
Two Fun Activities to Review Prepositions of Time with Adult ESL
Look, I get it. You need to review prepositions of time. Again. Your students keep saying “on the morning” and “at Monday,” and you’re wondering…
Teaching Noncount Nouns: Tips & Strategies for Adult ESL Success
“Teacher, I need two advices.” I still remember the look on Fahad’s face when I told him that wasn’t quite right. He’d spent days mastering…
Giving Directions in ESL: Getting Lost Without the Right Vocabulary
Picture this: Your student Mahmoud has been in the country for six months. His English is pretty solid in class. He can talk about his…
Teaching Adult ESL in Intensive English Programs: The Real Pros and Cons Nobody Tells You About
It’s 10 am on a Monday. Your intermediate reading class has 15 students from 9 different countries. They’ve already been at the language school since…
Task Cards: Why Aren’t More Adult ESL Teachers Using These?
Why Your Adult ESL Students Still Write Like Beginners…and how to fix that
You grade another stack of essays from your intermediate students and want to bang your head against the desk. Again. These students can handle a…
3 Reasons Why Your Adult ESL Students Can’t Remember Vocabulary & What To Do About It
You know that student who swears they’re studying vocabulary every single night but still bombs the quiz? Yeah, I had Mesfer. This guy was COMMITTED….
Talking Tickets: How to Get ALL Your Adult ESL Students to Participate in Discussions
Omar would not shut up. I mean that literally. The guy came from a family of twelve siblings, and apparently the only way to get…
Conversational Visits: Why Your Students Need to Talk to Someone Besides Each Other
You know that moment when you assign a speaking activity and your students look at each other like “Again? With YOU?” Yeah. That moment. They’ve…
Your Adult ESL Students Have Gaps and That’s Completely Normal
I need to tell you something that might make your day easier. You know those gaps your students have? The ones where you’re teaching present…
Why Vocabulary Bingo Is Your Secret Weapon for Exhausted Adult ESL Students
It’s 10:30 am. Your students have been in class since 8 am. They’ll be here until at least noon, maybe longer. Or maybe you teach…
Your Adult ESL Students Want to Steal this Game from the Kids
Have you heard of the game I Have…Who Has…? It’s everywhere in elementary schools, but most adult ESL teachers have never heard of it, which…
4 Strategies for R/L Pronunciation That Don’t Involve Parroting
“And then,” my professor paused dramatically, “the Muslims were playing in the streets! Everywhere! They were playing in the streets all over the country!” Everyone…
How I Got Students Excited About Grammar Worksheets
“Worksheet time!” I call out, waving a small stack of freshly-copied papers. Students begin smiling as they put away their phones and sit up, talking…
The Task Card Library: Your Secret Weapon for Success in Your Adult ESL Classroom
I once taught multiple classes at the same time with students at completely different levels in each class. It was a bit of a nightmare….
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