Teaching ESL to Children

How Can We Keep ESL Students Interested?

When ESL teen-agers arrive in the classroom it may be the first class of the day so they will be fresh and ready to attend. That's the best time for teaching ESL to children. There are other times of the day, such as the time before lunch or the latter part of the afternoon when they are tired and their energy level is low. These periods of the day are always a challenge teaching ESL to children.

Another group of English Foreign language students are those who come to class after work. Four o'clock or sixteen hours is the most difficult time as they may not have had time for a snack of any kind. Many come at six or seven o'clock (eighteen or nineteen hours). This is a better time if they have had a chance to relax and get something to eat before class.

There is another situation that can be a challenge for the teacher to maintain a productive level of interest and learning. These are the students who are attending ESL classes that are paid for by their employer. Some of these students appreciate the opportunity to learn while others are attending because it is an expectation of their job. Whether they attend during the day or after work there are always those who don't care about learning. Their attitude can affect the enthusiasm of the group.

How can we get them interested?

Find some things � sports, clothes, movies etc. - that many or most of the class are interested in. This will allow you to adapt the ORAL QUESTIONS for example to be about those interests. The ORAL QUESTIONS that the teacher asks at the beginning of each class have been rated as the most helpful activity by hundreds of classes in several different countries. It is best to adapt those listed in the Teacher's Guide to meet the needs of the class as the questions are asked. In this way the teacher can follow the interests of the class.

Small group activities are another way to maintain interest. The students usually form groups with those who are sitting near them. They feel free when they are talking with their friends and although they may not be excited about learning English they like to talk. Laugh with them and remind them to speak English!

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