Esl

[PenforPrez]

I know a few of you teach or have taught ESL to people learning English. I need to pick your brains for a moment.

The owner of the company wants me to conduct some sort of ESL classes for the Koreans in the office. I'm just not sure at all where to start. They all know English words so phonics would be a waste of time probably, but their fluency is not even. Some can make themselves easily understood; some have a really hard time.

So my question is: For a beginning ESL class, what should I start teaching them? Thanks! :)

Paul

[Krishna]

I guess whenever I'm learning a new language (or trying to), I start with numbers and letters. Then I've labeled major items, rooms, etc. with both the native language and the target language (so, "door" and whatever it is in Korean). Then pick a couple important verbs and start conjugating them?

Again, I've never taught ESL, but this is how I remember trying to learn 2 languages...

[spiritedaway]

You wear a lot of hats at your company...

When I taught ESL to several adult students back in college as part of the service learning that I was involved with, I focused on conversational English. Some of them knew a bit of English so I didn't have to start from scratch. In your case, it may make sense to focus on the business conversation? (i.e. "Can you finish the report by the end of the day?")
Ultimately, it really depends on what the students want to get out of it.

Conversational English seemed to work for me and the students I worked with. I took as a very positive sign when one of the person I worked with asked me for private lessons and offered to pay me for them. I had to decline for various reasons, but it was a good indicator that it was at least somewhat helpful.

Have fun and good luck!

[PenforPrez]

When I taught ESL to several adult students back in college as part of the service learning that I was involved with, I focused on conversational English. Some of them knew a bit of English so I didn't have to start from scratch.

That's the good news for me. All of these people know the basics of English, and that's the hardest part. It's more a task of refining what they know and expanding on it.

In your case, it may make sense to focus on the business conversation? (i.e. "Can you finish the report by the end of the day?")
Ultimately, it really depends on what the students want to get out of it.


That's why the owner wanted me to help originally--so he could be a sharper American businessman. He doesn't fully understand conversational English that he hears.

Paul

[PenforPrez]

I was sitting here trying to come up with some rudimentary lesson plan since they want me to start this tomorrow. I had an idea, but I want to check and see if I'm on the right track.

How about if I started by reading aloud out of a children's book or something similar to give them a mental grasp of how the English language should sound? Then maybe do something hands-on like having them write some simple sentences and showing how they can be improved.

This needs to be fleshed out, but this sounds like a workable plan.

Paul

[ebrillblaiddes]

Field-specific vocabulary and stock phrases. One part of fluency comes from being able to talk without thinking about every single word, so having a bank of phrases built up comes in handy.