Archive for May, 2009
An Infallible Plan to Maximize your ESL Learning
You´ve made your decision. You´ve signed up for classes at an ESL school. This is it! A wonderful chance to work on your English skills and enjoy all the things American culture has to offer. However, you must think about this: no matter how fantastic your course is, no matter how skilled your instructors are, you could miss out on wonderful chances to take your English fluency to the next level.
Put your speaking abilities to the test by meeting and hanging out with local residents!
So, you really want to SPEAK English? Feel all speechless and bashful when trying to make friends? Face your fears! Staying with a host family could be awkward, difficult sometimes, but it is a tremendously enriching experience, a unique opportunity to get to know the American way of life and also a fantastic way to improve communication skills.
In class, you learned how to ask, how to respond, what to say, when to say it, how to say it. You name it! You learned it in your ESL program! But with your instructor it is one thing; experiences out in the street are a little different. The recommended way to learn how words and phrases are used in real social scenarios is to go out and mingle! Ask about what people your age generally do for fun, where they go, and plan outings with your fellow classmates. You could talk to really cool people, and even make long-lasting friendships.
If just the thought of initiating a conversation with a total stranger makes you tremble, find activities that will give you the perfect chance to talk to people. Think of the interesting people you could meet while learning to ski, or during a hike. Any sport or outdoor activity offers a great chance to engage in lively conversation, plus the added benefit of keeping you in shape.
Or take another course. Music lessons, arts and crafts, art courses, business courses - you´ll have a variety to choose from- and yet again ANOTHER incredible opportunity to communicate and share. If you happen to be interested in, for example animal rights, go on down to the local animal shelter, or wildlife preserve, and talk with the volunteers.
So, when the bell rings and school´s out for the day, resist the inclination to go home, stay in, and call it a day. Put what you´ve learned at school to good use. Don´t be self-conscious. And don´t fret about what they´ll think of your fuency. Chances are they´ll just be happy to have met you.
ESL Programs – A Large Variety to Choose from
English as a Second Language (ESL) has been instrumental in developing the English skills of individuals whose native language is another. ESL has a set of programs in which each one is different in its own way and is engaged in the task of imparting English knowledge. The number of programs has increased over the years as the needs of students have been on a rising trend.
The diversity of programs can be attributed to three major reasons, namely:
- The student population that is to be served
- Individual characteristics of the students
- Resources available at a particular place
The classification of programs chiefly depends on where the focus of the program lies and based on this criterion, there are two classifications:
- Stand-Alone ESL
- ESL Plus
The Stand-Alone ESL program is very much similar to Foreign Language classes, as the focal point is on Linguistics aspects. These programs are conducted for a special class of people who taken away from the normal classroom surrounding, and classes are exclusively conducted for them with extra care and attention. It covers only a lesser portion of the instruction material and hence the classes may be there for 2 to 3 days a week. Here are the few examples:
Pull Out: This is a situation adopted in elementary environment where the students are taken away from their normal classes to be provided with separate classes by a single teacher or by a teacher who is entrusted with a single building.
Class Period: This instruction is followed in middle or secondary school setting, where the students learn the ESL instruction along their normal course of classes in the normal class hours and are provided with credits for this course based on their level of proficiency achieved.
Resource Center: The Resource Center is the enhanced version of the pull out program in the sense that, the students from various classes or schools are taken away from their regular classes. To provide a better learning experience, the resources are all centralized at a single location.
As for ESL Plus, it is just an extension of the Stand-Alone ESL and hence covers a larger portion of the instruction. It is inclusive of all the aspects of Stand-Alone ESL but its focus extends beyond the Linguistic aspects to the medium of instruction of the content area which may be in English or the native language. Following are the few examples of ESL Plus:
Bilingual Education Programs: These programs on the basis of success levels are further classified as ‘Early Transition’ and ‘Late Transition’ and these programs are used at the elementary or the secondary level.
Structured Immersion Program: These programs at its various levels concentrate on enhancing English skills as a language and in the phase of content area instruction.
Sheltered English Or Content-Based Program: These programs are those which are provided simultaneously with other academic subjects.
High Intensity Language Training (Hilt): This program is characterized by intensive ESL training and it also shares various aspects of the sheltered program.
Thus, ESL programs have been very effective in imparting English skills with their wide range of exclusive programs.
ESL Lessons – Effective Lesson Plans are the Key
English as a Second Language (ESL) institutions have constantly engaged themselves in the activity of imparting knowledge to those who approach them. They provide an excellent platform, where it’s just not about learning but where you feel yourself turning into a completely new person by mastering yourself in English.
Have you ever thought about learning in a way that could be different and interesting? Where you are taught with pictures instead of lecture videos that are played, where your brain is put into constant action by quizzes and crossword puzzles? Now are you asking yourself whether there could really be such a place for learning?
Then, it’s my duty to inform you the answer is YES. Let’s now see how ESL lessons are able to do this magic!
ESL lessons are able to create this magic with their well-constructed and unique syllabus combined with an innovative style of teaching. An effective ESL program could be created with lesson plans, inspired by thousands of unique lesson plans contributed by teachers from all over the world.
ESL lesson plans for kids includes teaching through the use of materials like coloring worksheets, handwriting worksheets, crossword puzzles, and word search puzzles, text mazes for reading, flashcards, phonics materials, video lessons, self-grading exercises and drawing sheets. Can you think of any better way where your child will be happy about learning?
ESL lesson plans for adults include reading, listening, writing, speaking, pronunciation, and grammar activities, offered in three basic levels: Beginners, Intermediate, and Advanced Students.
The following are some examples of lesson plans commonly used in all three levels:
Living in English: This plan deals with everyday issues like employment, health, and recreation and is the most suited plan for teenagers and adults living abroad or those about to move.
Level: Lower to Upper-intermediate
Mini Debates: Here discussion and debates take place on current events, which certainly calls for a variety of reading and is expected to enhance the speaking skills of the participants.
Level: Upper-Intermediate
Everyday Idioms: It is a type of conversation practice in which ongoing stories are discussed through dialogues. Each lesson includes new idioms, comprehension task, and a dialogue.
Level: Lower to Upper-intermediate
Holidays: Under this lesson plan, people are asked to choose a specific holiday and activities like vocabulary development, framing idioms are carried out after a thorough reading.
Level: Beginner and Intermediate.
Business in English: This is indeed a very interesting lesson plan in which the exciting events in the business world are discussed whereby the floor is opened for debate as well.
Level: Upper-intermediate – Advanced.
Office Life: Here the students are given an option to experience the office setting in which case the students engage in business writing, negotiations, telephone conversations, and also learn to construct meaningful English sentences and phrases.
Level: Intermediate – Advanced.
Grammar Exercises: Under this plan, various grammar exercises like grammar practice worksheets, grammar stories, and easy grammar exercises are provided to enhance the grammar skills of the individual.
ESL Classes - Face the Challenge
Is it a must to speak English even though you are not from a country where it is the native language? Yes, this question is on many people’s minds. In the global arena English is the common medium for communication which links people from countries of different background. It is a medium again to use the internet, to trade with other countries. When you travel around the word, you end up in a embarrassing situation, where you are not able to speak in English. Do you think you want that? No definitely not .Don‘t worry when we are here. We won’t let you get into that situation; yes we are going help you through this by furnishing the information you rightly need.
Here we have ESL classes which will help you learn English in the right way. They train to read and write well in English. But first thing you need is to have open mind to learn and let go your fear “No I may not able to do it” general fear everyone has, because it will never help you to learn. There are two types of English classes, class room study and the other type is learning through internet that is called online learning. Here they teach for different levels that are from beginner to advanced level to learn proper grammar and to speak and write well. ESL classes are conducted in schools for schoolchildren, some service organization also conduct classes for their employees
Level-1 beginners.
Level- 2 Low intermediate students.
Level-3 intermediate students
Level-4 upper intermediate students
Level-5 advanced students
In level- 1, 2 and 3.
We teach English grammar and vocabulary, read and write, and also we teach how to introduce themselves, and make you to write a small article about what you favorite e.g.: pets or actor etc.
We teach you how to speak, when a topic is given and then to write about it, with correct grammar. Content can be anything
In level -4.
Study some sample exercise and work on 5 vocabulary items. You have to do a lot good reading to adopt new learning .read about business and write about it. And practice on a message board.
In level-5 English vocabulary and reading classes using grammar and read and write on the message board.
If the person is interested in content writing then following classes are available for them:
- English for business classes
- English for technology classes
- English for travel classes
- English writing classes
- English listening classes.
The class room’s atmosphere is very nice; you have students from different countries and students with different language. When you attend classroom classes it is a better learning as you hear and see how the other students are talking. So it is easy to correct your mistakes and learning becomes easier. In online classes you have to download your lesson in your computer and learn on your own computer with the help of the tutor who is online with you. Now I am sure you are clear about the ESL classes. Now what are you waiting for, wherever you are, go ahead and register yourself and become an expert in English. Be confident in whatever you do!
ESL Classes - Increase your Vocabulary. Use a Dictionary
To use a person who knows English better than you as your personal dictionary may be a very comfortable situation to be in, but it isn’t always the most effective way. Why do we say that? The answer is easy; it’s common knowledge that, “No pain, no gain”.
If you are starting your ESL classes, or, even if you are just trying to improve your use of english vocabulary take the necessary time to look for the meaning of a word by yourself; look for examples of how this word is used. This will create good vocabulary foundations for you.
Later, this vocabulary knowledge will help you when trying to keep a conversation going or when trying to express a particular idea. This is the main reason for our first advice to you: use a Spanish - English Dictionary everywhere. To make it clearer; this is what happens to someone who is living in an English-speaking country; they learn more because they need to learn more. There is no doubt about this method.
Usually we complain about how slow our learning process is, and we say it without realizing that this slowness has a lot to do with the minimum effort we put into looking for words and learning them in context.
To learn how to properly speak English you definitely will have to read all those books you have been avoiding lately, and of course you will have to go and read that dictionary hidden in your room. It is time for you to take the steps that will lead you to successfully complete your English learning.
What dictionary is it recommended to start with?
Always use at least two dictionaries. First a pocket bilingual dictionary, this is going to be your best friend from this point on. Even though they normally have more words than the ones stored in an average bilingual brain, there are going to be times when you’ll have a hard time trying to find a word. That’s why you must have a back-up dictionary; this one has to be bigger, to be kept at home, waiting for you.
Which edition should you choose?
Cambridge and Oxford are by far the most recognized dictionaries in the world, but the choice relies more on your needs and of course on your budget.
Maybe your best option is to go and check what Amazon or eBay has to offer, and you won’t have to buy it right there. This research may help in developing parameters to help you before making your final decision.
Is it OK to use an online dictionary?
Of course it is. An online dictionary is a perfect resource for you. It will make it much easier for you to find language forums, definitions, thesaurus (synonym dictionary), etc.
The most famous site is probably Word Reference But there are many more such as Babylon or the Merriam-Webster online. It is calculated there are more than 6,000 dictionaries and online resources in the world. Do some Google search and pick your favorite.
It is important to have these tools. They are the only way to concrete and useful knowledge. Once you’ve found a dictionary that suits your needs, you’ll start noticing the difference.
What Kind of Material Should a Student Use to Improve Listening Skills?
When considering material to develop listening skills in an ESL class, it’s very important to be careful with what kind of material you use. At the very beginning, it will be much more important to prioritize the comprehension of basic English structures.
Instead of thinking that music or movies will help, we must realize that they have a lack of pedagogical content. Using this kind of material will only lead to frustration.
In the first place, dialogues in most of the movies are spoken without proper diction. It may be natural for native speakers, but it is really difficult and frustrating for a beginner English student. The amount of slang is considerable, and this may result a little confusing; sometimes it’s even difficult for advanced students.
We are not saying that there are no exceptions, there are certain series and TV programs whose dialogues are a lot simpler, which makes them easier to understand for non-native speakers.
Songs are a very particular subject. The use of language in pop music, most of the times, is altered to the point it makes complete nonsense. Obviously there are exceptions. In case you decide to use songs anyways, try not to listen to hip-hop or hard rock where the sound of instruments and sound pulse is more relevant than lyrics and descriptive content.
It is recommendable to start your students’ listening training with podcasts or other voice recordings. It will be much better if they can get the script, so that they can follow the recording’s content. Keep this method for a while. It must be more than enough to enforce the learning of the most recurrent English structures.
Then you will be able to jump to a level where you can focus on audios or videos that show real life scenes, represented by native speakers. Internet is the best source to look for material.
Once the listening skills of your students have already improved, they can choose particular subjects according to their interests. They may decide to go for business, art, industry, sports, medicine, commerce, or technology subjects. The possibilities are endless.
Tell them to listen to every resource they find, and after they’ve dedicated enough time to do it, look for more natural and easy-going materials, such as news, movies or even songs if you want to and play it for them. It will be much easier for them to understand the content.
Finally, other alternatives offered by the Internet and its infinite opportunities are audio books. These audio books will help them through reading the book (they always come with a book). Your students get to choose one that meets their needs, according to their English level.
Alternatives are wide. The key is not to have lots of information; this will only be confusing for the students. It is always better to take one step at a time. There is nothing to be concerned about; if you keep on following appropriate steps and recommendations, they are going to understand spoken English faster than you can imagine!
6 Things TO DO to Make Yours a Better English Class
We know that there are not only students at EnglishLCI.com. Plenty of teachers come here and take a glimpse at our advice, tips, and suggestions for their students. Here, we’ll indicate some golden rules to improve your experience teaching ESL lessons.
Here’s the most important. It’s better when you are entertaining. Bored students stop paying attention to whatever you are teaching, they stop assimilating the information they get. What’s almost certainly going to be the result? He or she won’t learn a thing, and what the student does learn, is learned by requirement and with displeasure.
Here are some ideas to achieve this; Though these are meant for private classes or business students, some of these ideas may work for large groups or college situation.
Keep it fun and relaxed
It is a reality that it is not always easy to amuse your students, mainly due to the fact that there are very basic and simple subjects. How to entertain when teaching conditional or irregular verbs? How to be fun when teaching passive forms?
Run that extra mile
You have to really put your soul into what you’re doing. You have to communicate your commitment and passion to your students, so they can be motivated and proactive. How is this passion passed on to them? It is a task that only a person who is enjoying his or her time teaching can complete.
Support your teaching
Use didactic materials to carry out activities completely in the English language: games, projects, performances, dialogues, listening, songs, etc. You’ll need a complete “arsenal” of activities to test your students.
Good vibrations all the time
A good sense of humor is always welcome. Having a laugh everyday, as a teacher or as a student, is not only helpful but also healthy. What should the class laugh about? Anything, your possibilities are endless. A good time laughing is always a very useful therapy; because right after a joke, people start working at a little more relaxed pace and feel stimulated to keep on doing good work.
A “chameleonic” class
When dealing with small groups, you must try to adapt each students’ needs to your class. If you detect that there are pronunciation issues for some of your students, you should try to emphasize its improvement with a series of specific activities; such as: audio listening, repetition of phrases, conversation with other students. On the other hand, if you detect a lack of understanding of the irregular verbs, you must practice them with your students as much as needed.
Share the remote control
If the case is different, and you are in charge of a large class, it is recommendable to make a list of 10 subjects for the next 3 months. Then, allow your students to choose those subjects they are more interested in and write them on a piece of paper. Finally, you take those suggestions and see what subjects are more interesting for your students, then focus your class on the first 5 most voted subjects. This will make yours a more fluid and proactive class.
Get Organized for College
When in College, the word organization takes a whole new meaning if you wish to be on time, meet deadlines, study for tests, impress professors, and yet, have fun in your free time. You definitely need a good plan, because professors will not remind you of upcoming assignments or give you extra time to present them; and, if still you’re taking, for example, ESL lessons or working part time, you will have to know exactly where your time is going, or else, you will collapse.
Follow these steps and you can be certain you will go through it smoothly.
1. Print or collect syllabi for each class
2. Get your books, a pile of unlined 3×5 cards and a heavy duty, bright colored, plastic folder
3. Place the syllabi in the folder. Tag it “syllabi folder”. Keep it close when you study; at home, the library, or during class
4. For each syllabus, highlight what is due the first week in one color and what’s due the second week in another color. This way, you can follow your tasks weekly
5. Assign a card for every book. Place it vertically and write the dates for which you have assignments for that specific book, and next to it, write the pages you must read. Use it as a bookmark, to know where you are and how far you need to go
6. Get a good size calendar or academic planner and write down the assignments and tests due on specific dates
7. Make a Project Syllabus. Chronologically, write down every assignment that needs more than one day to complete. This way, you can space out your work so that you do not spend all night working on a last minute paper
8. Write your schedule down or have it in your computer so that you know exactly when you have class. Plan at least one hour of study for every hour of class, two if you are at grad school; treat this time as sacred, and do not miss it
9. In your computer, make a folder called “School” and inside of it, create a folder for each class you are taking. Use these to store downloads required by your professors and other important information. Make sure you lock your folders with a password for safety
10. Now it’s time to get to work. At this point, you do not have to figure out how to organize all the work, take advantage of your time and resources and get the best out of your learning experience!
Great Study Tips
Everyone is unique, thus, each one of us needs to find the best way to study effectively in order to stand out from the crowd. It is imperative to develop good study habits that will surely help us get the most out of our time and brains, while setting a solid foundation for future learning efforts and to enhance our lives.
Here are some good study tips that will fit your normal college plan or any other learning activity you undertake, like ESL programs, for example:
1. Establish a place to study. It has to be a place you enjoy; quiet, comfortable, practical, and nice. Make sure it has everything you need, from a space for your books and pens, to your favorite cushion to recline on. Make sure you do not have to waste time and concentration to looking for things outside this area.
2. Get a good night’s sleep. Sleeping well will enhance your memory, making it easy to understand concepts and think creatively.
3. Set a schedule. Plan your study time and honor it. Make it into a routine as much as going to the gym or going to class. Make it work along with your other activities so that you do not have to sacrifice anything at some point.
4. Take regular breaks. While studying, get up every 30 to 40 minutes for around 5 minutes and stretch, get something to eat or drink, or just look out the window. This way you rest but do not lose your focus.
5. Get a partner. When another person is studying with you, it is easier to concentrate on the topic, and you can also enrich each other with new tips and ideas. Make sure this person is someone you consider superior to you in some aspects and a great student; someone you can look up to and learn from.
6. Establish clear goals. Define what you will study on a given day and how far you will get. If you can’t make it all the way, rethink the time you need for each subject and adjust your goals.
7. Exercise regularly. A regular exercise routine will oxygenate your brain, improving your memory and helping you concentrate easily.
8. Eat and drink healthy. This is a must if you want to keep your organism active and energized. You will not get too far if you’re weak, lacking vitamins and minerals your body requires to work.
Enjoy Denver, Colorado for Free
It is a fact! When in Denver Colorado, forget about needing money to have fun. Some of the best, most fun activities and gorgeous destinations are completely free.
Get ready to free your mind from troubles, breathe clean air, and feed your soul with the natural beauty that Denver Colorado possesses.
1. Take a free ride on the 16th Street Trolley. The 16th Street Pedestrian Mall in downtown Denver, Colorado is one of the principal attractions. It is composed of 15 blocks filled with restaurants and shops, and, in the months of good weather, you can see lots of street entertainment happening there, from jugglers to musicians. The trolley goes up and down the mall, so take it and get a great view of the whole place; identify activities or places you would like to visit later or just sit down and relax watching the people walk, or meditate, or think, if you need some time for yourself.
2. Take a free tour of the U.S. Mint. Inspect how money is made in this building. Tours are available every hour from 8 in the morning until 2 in the afternoon, and it’s recommended that you make a reservation here: Mint Website, however, you can risk it and just arrive unannounced, there could be a free space on a walk-up tour.
3. Visit the Denver Art Museum. It is newly expanded and offers free admission to the DAM for Colorado residents every first Saturday of the month. There are free digital gallery games that are played on Game Boys, and you can borrow them for free. Families can ask for the Family Backpacks, which are filled with activities, games, and puzzles to do in the different galleries.
4. Go to the park. Denver Colorado has over 200 parks. Go jogging or ride a bike while enjoying the scenery. Play Frisbee, read, or even go fishing. And, do not forget about the best activity to do at any park: lie down on your back and watch the sky.
5. Go trail hunting. There are over 850 miles of bike paths in Denver, Colorado. There is no excuse here to not be fit! As the saying goes: “When in Rome, do as the Romans do”, follow the locals and walk, run, roller blade, or bike along the beautiful and peaceful paths that frame Cherry Creek and the Platte River.
6. Visit free festivals. The Mile-High City is full of outdoor festivals running throughout the year, like Cinco de Mayo Celebrate Culture Festival, the Cherry Creek Arts Festival, and the Free Parade of Lights in December. Look for free events at the Denver’s Year-Round Events Guide.
As you can see, there is no excuse to no have fun in Denver Colorado. Enjoy the rich opportunities offered to practice what you’ve been learning in your ESL classes and make it an experience of a lifetime!
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