Teaching English as a second or foreign language for beginners is a challenging task for anyone. Whatever your background, or level of experience, it's undeniable that while teaching English as a second language you will be constantly facing new challenges. Even when studying other subjects, you will notice that each student has a different way of learning. In addition, you will also experience new challenges related to each student's mother tongue. However, with hard work and knowledge, you will be able to develop the skills needed to teach English as a second language to beginners.
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Part 1 of 3: Teaching the Basics
Step 1. Start with the alphabet and numbers
One of the first steps in teaching English as a second language is to introduce the alphabet and numbers. By teaching the alphabet and numbers, you create a strong foundation so they can learn other things in English.
- Let students learn the alphabet to some extent. You could start with the letter a and stop at the letter m, for example. Ask students to learn the alphabet at a pace that you both feel comfortable with. The idea is to encourage students to progress without putting too much pressure on them.
- Ask students to study numbers. You can use the same method as teaching letters, starting with 1 and stopping according to each student's ability. Consider creating a worksheet that students get to use to practice writing letters and/or numbers.
- Use flashcards containing words starting with each letter in the alphabet to reinforce the lesson.
- Learning the alphabet may be easier for students whose native language uses the Latin or English alphabet.
Step 2. Teach pronunciation, especially for difficult pronunciations
Teaching pronunciation is very important when you want to teach English as a second language. Focus on sounds that are particularly complex for students who are not native speakers, such as:
- Th sound. Th sound (as in the word theater or thing) is not recognized in some languages. As a result, it is difficult for some students (eg those with a background in Tegal or Javanese) to pronounce it.
- R sound. The R sound is also difficult to pronounce for many students learning English as a second language (ESL) for a variety of reasons including the fact that the R sound is pronounced differently, depending on regional dialects.
- L sound. The L sound is another sound that is difficult for ESL students to pronounce, especially those from East Asia, such as Japan. Take extra time to pronounce the L sound.
Step 3. Teach Nouns After teaching the alphabet and numbers, move on to nouns
Nouns are one of the easiest subjects for students to learn. This is because students can see objects around them and study them.
- Start with the common objects in the class.
- After that, move on to common objects in the city where you live. Some good examples include: car, house, tree, road, and so on.
- Continue with objects that students usually encounter in everyday life, such as food, electronic goods, and so on.
Step 4. Teach verbs and adjectives
The next step after nouns is to teach verbs and adjectives. Teaching verbs and adjectives will be a big step in the process of learning English as a second language as students will construct complete sentences (both written and spoken).
- Adjectives change or describe other words. Examples of adjectives you can teach include: wild, silly, troubled, and agreeable.
- Verbs describe action. Examples of verbs you can teach include: to speak, to talk, and to pronounce.
- Make sure students understand the difference between verbs and adjectives. If you don't know how it works, students won't be able to pronounce or compose sentences.
- Take extra time to teach irregular verbs. The word go is an example of an irregular verb in English that is fairly difficult. The past tense for go is went. The third form of the verb (past participle) for go is gone.
Step 5. Explain about tense and article (article)
After studying nouns, verbs, and adjectives, you should move on to tenses and articles. If students do not understand how to use the correct tense and where to put the article, they will not be able to compose complete sentences.
- Tense describes when something just happened or happened in the past. Make sure you explain the past tense (past), present tense (current), and future tense (future).
- Articles are adjectives that provide extra information about a noun. Articles include: a, an, and the.
- Make sure students master about tenses and articles because they are very important in supporting students' ability to compose sentences and speak correctly.
Step 6. Teach about common phrases
To teach English in a more efficient way, encourage students to practice and use common expressions. This is important because students will have difficulty understanding many of the common phrases used based on the literal meanings of the words that make them up.
- You should encourage students to repeat (and use) the phrase until they can use it naturally in conversation.
- Start with some common phrases like never mind, no doubt or make believe.
- Provide a list of common phrases for students to learn and understand.
Step 7. Teach students how to construct simple sentences
After teaching about the alphabet, verbs, and so on, you should start teaching how to compose simple sentences. This is important because it provides a foundation that will help students develop writing as well as reading skills. Teach the following five main patterns of sentence formation in English:
- Sentences consisting of Subject-Verb. This sentence has a subject followed by a verb. For example, The Dog runs.
- Sentences consisting of Subject-Verb-Object. This sentence has a subject, followed by a verb, which is then followed by an object. For example, John eats pizza.
- Sentences consisting of Subject-Verb-Adjective. This sentence has a subject, a verb, and then an adjective. For example, The puppy is cute.
- Sentences consisting of subject-verb-adverb. This sentence has a subject, a verb, and then an adverb. For example, The lion is there.
- Sentences consisting of Subject-Verb-Noun. This sentence has a subject, a verb, and ends with a noun. For example, Emmanuel is a philosopher.
Part 2 of 3: Implementing Good Habits
Step 1. Encourage students to speak only English in class
One of the most effective ways to facilitate learning is to encourage students to speak only English in class. In this way, students will be forced to use what they have learned and can master English better. In addition, it allows you to optimize your work schedule and provides opportunities for students to learn.
- This method is more effective if students already have basic knowledge (eg asking simple questions, greeting, knowing the alphabet, and numbers).
- If a student makes a mistake, correct it in the right way.
- Always give encouragement to students.
- This method is most effective if you ask students to “repeat what you said” and/or “answer a question”. For example, you can say something or ask a question. This way, they will have the opportunity to answer in English.
- Don't be a "language cop". If a student is having a hard time and is forced to say something in Indonesian, don't embarrass him. Listen to his concerns.
Step 2. Give verbal and written instructions
When you explain activities, or give instructions about homework, exercises and presentations, you should always do so verbally and in writing. This way, students can hear your words and write at the same time. This will help improve their ability to associate words and pronounce them.
Before starting an activity, print out instructions and distribute them to students. If you teach online, email instructions before you start the lesson
Step 3. Keep track of student progress
No matter what lessons or activities you do with students, you should constantly evaluate their progress. That way, you can see their progress and see if they have a problem or not.
- If you teach a class, don't just stand in front of the class. Approach students and talk to them to see if they have a problem.
- If you teach online, message or email students and ask if they need help.
- Try to spend as much time as possible while students are doing activities in class or other work.
Step 4. Use a different learning method
Diverse learning methods allow you to teach English more effectively. Diversity in teaching is important because every student is different and applies different ways of learning.
- Get used to speaking in English.
- Encourage students to develop writing skills.
- Encourage students to read.
- Encourage them to listen.
- Try to apply this learning method with a balanced portion.
Step 5. Divide the lesson into shorter sessions
If you're teaching beginners or young children, try delivering the lesson over several 10-minute sessions. Splitting the lesson into short sessions will ensure you don't lose their attention. At the same time, don't overwhelm them.
- You don't have to do it exactly 10 minutes. Feel free to shorten the session, if necessary.
- Try to keep each session different. This step will help refresh students' memories and stimulate their attention.
- Make daily changes for each session. Try to add as much variety as possible to each session to keep students focused and motivated.
Part 3 of 3: Learn English while having fun
Step 1. Use games to reinforce concepts
With games, students can learn while having fun and encourage them to learn new things.
- Try a quiz that will encourage them to compete against each other.
- If you want students to collaborate, divide them into teams and play games like Family 100.
- Use cards to create memory games or puzzles. For example, show them a card with a clue and ask them to guess the correct answer.
Step 2. Use visual aids to teach
This method is very important to improve students' ability to make word associations. By using visual aids, they can make stronger connections between new ideas and words they are learning. Here are some visual aids you can use in class:
- Pictures and photos.
- Postcard.
- Videos.
- Map.
- Comic. Comic books are very effective because they combine images and text.
Step 3. Recommend the use of English learning apps on mobile devices
Integrating the use of English learning apps on mobile is another effective method for teaching English. English learning apps are very useful for reinforcing learning concepts in class because students can use them to practice their language skills or learn new words and expressions.
- Many English learning apps are available for all mobile operating systems.
- There are various free English learning apps, such as Duolingo.
- Some applications provide opportunities for students to collaborate.
Step 4. Use social media
Social media can be an effective tool for teaching English to beginners. Social media provides an opportunity to discover everyday language and commonly used words. In addition, social media allows students to observe word usage and practice what they learn.
- Explain one new idiom each time you meet. You can choose frequently used idioms or everyday sentences and explain them.
- Encourage students to follow celebrities on Twitter and translate their tweets.
- Create groups on social media and ask students to share the news and explain or translate it into English.
Tips
- Try to deepen your knowledge by attending short training for one week or one month. This helps you gain deeper knowledge, new ideas and techniques in teaching. Such programs are available everywhere.
- Try to always prepare enough references before setting foot in class.
- Prepare all the materials you need to teach ahead of time. Also prepare other materials if needed. Sometimes, you may finish a topic sooner than expected. Some of the material may not be of interest to students so even 10 minutes feels very long.
