Most teachers know how to teach vocabulary using pictures and examples. Most ESL students are familiar with word lists. While memorization of word lists has its place in a teaching vocabulary strategy, most researchers agree, vocabulary is learned by making as many links to the vocabulary as possible.

Go beyond the walls of the classroom to incorporate the vocabulary into hands on activities and games, as well as discussions involving both the whole class and small groups about activites in the student's real life. The more different contexts the words can be presented and used, the better the retention.

Here are some tips and pointers for teaching vocabulary:

Read full article on teaching Vocabulary >>>

Amy Dow Has extensive experience in not only teaching English but teaching abroad. She's earned her TEFL certificate from Winfield College in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. she has her masters in teaching from Griffith University in Brisbane, Australia.

She literally taught English all over the world including England, Spain, Canada, Thailand, Taiwan, Korea, China, Sweden, Greece, Italy, Pakistan, India, Romania.


Amy's new book TEFL Secrets is a step-by-step guide to traveling and teaching English. Learn more >>>

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How to 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 teaching time. 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 to teachers no matter what their subject may be.

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. 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. Adapting the questions to meet the interests of the students helps to maintain the interest level.

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!

Games are great motivators.
Bingo is a game that should be saved for the last ten or fifteen minutes of the ESL time. With young students particularly, they all become involved in listening and working to win.  

Free Lesson for Intermediate Students

Welcome to our new ESL JOBS section which has proved to be very popular with our subscribers. Below are jobs posted on April 15/08. For updates every day, please visit our website for daily updates.

• Work for International House in Spain
  ICT (our In-company Training department are looking to fill an ADOS Vacancy. The ADOS will help the Director to maintain, strengthen and grow the department in line...
• Summer Semester English teacher wanted -- MEXICO
  Culturlingua Tlaquepaque is a small and friendly language school which operates English classes to students of all ages and levels. Our next course starts on Monday 19th May 2008 and will run for 15 weeks.
• Teach English in Indonesia with EF English First
  EF Jember, an expanding school, is actively seeking for an experienced English Teacher to be located in the eastern part of East Java. EF English First is a large and well-established organization...
• Teach English in Japan with AEON
  For more than three decades, the AEON Corporation of Japan has been an innovator in the field of English (ESL) education and has grown to become one of the largest and most respected private educational...
• Seoul English Village (Suyu Campus)
  What is an English Village? It is not an academy. It`s a new and creative approach to teaching English. Students come to the village to study English in a simulated immersion environment through role-playing...
• Native teacher needed urgently -- TURKEY
  Urgent native teacher needed 4 our two one-to-one students and classes (Istanbul-Kadikoy-Levent). We have two students who are interested in private lessons.
• English teachers -- UAE
  The Institute for Vocational Development (IVD), Abu Dhabi University, is seeking experienced and qualified staff in Abu Dhabi and Al Ain, UAE.
• INCHEON ENGLISH VILLAGE IS NOW HIRING
  Modeled after an English-speaking town, ICEV currently provides situational based learning to primary and secondary students from the public schools in Incheon as well as to public City officials.
• Summer camps and year-round jobs -- TAIWAN
  Taiwan Fun Summer ESL camp and One-year ESL job Around Taiwan-Fantastic. We have summer camp ESL jobs and MANY one-year full time ESL jobs in Taiwan!
• Assistant / Associate Professor -- JAPAN
  Appointment may be made at Assistant Professor or Associate Professor level depending on experience and qualification. The initial contract of employment is for 2 years, renewable thereafter...
• Exotic Jeju Island -- KOREA
  ETEC has recently gained several openings in Jeju island.. We are looking for energetic teachers with at least a bachelor?s degree and preferably with some prior teaching experience.
• TEACH ENGLISH near BEIJING
  Boding College is located in Boding City, Hebei Province, founded in 1958 and affiliated with the Ministry of Education, is the key university of Power Engineering in China.
• Full-time position in Taiwan for April, 2008
  School Information: Melody English School. School Type: ESL language school/cram school. School Location: Hengchun Town Pingtung County (Near Kenting, which is close to the coastline)...
• Position at British School of Castrovillari -- ITALY
  The school was founded in 1984 and became part of the British Schools group in 1998. It is quite small, with approximately a hundred students, many of whom have attended for a number of years.
• Positions beginning May 4th in Japan
  Applicants must be Native English speakers with a drivers license and tons of energy! A college degree is needed for visa sponsorship but no teaching experience is necessary.
• TEACH IN THAILAND (volunteer)
  We have several programs going in Namsom and normally five to eight volunteers working in the town. A western coordinator living in the town will introduce you to your teaching placement and help in any situation.

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