Teaching English as a Second Language

As use of the English language grows, and more and more refugees and immigrants flow into English-speaking countries, the need for teachers of English as a second language (ESL) is rapidly increasing. Teaching English to non-English-speaking people requires more than just fluency in English on the part of the educator.

Linguistics and second language acquisition

Linguistics is the study of human language, including form, meaning and context. When people grow up in a community where everybody speaks the same language, they unconsciously absorb all the rules and contextual clues of that language as they learn it. However, when learning a second language in a classroom setting, the student must consciously study these aspects of a language. An ESL teacher needs to understand how people acquire language skills and use techniques that help the students decipher the rules and contextual clues used in the English language.

Cultural communication and sociolinguistics

People of different cultures often use language in different ways. Changes in intonation, stress and rhythm vary from culture to culture and language to language, and the differences often prove subtle and difficult to discern. Even use of body language and eye contact can make a difference in the meaning of a conversation. An ESL teacher must understand the impact of culture on language and help the students learn how English speakers use vocal rhythms, hand gestures and other body language to convey meaning.

Grammar and pronunciation

Even native speakers of English make mistakes in grammar and pronunciation. Imagine how difficult it must seem to a non-native speaker. English uses many consonant and vowel combinations, syllable structures, verb tenses, sentence structures, idioms and colloquialisms that would seem very foreign to people familiar with other languages. Asian languages, in particular, differ greatly in these areas, and Asian students may have greater difficulties with English grammar and pronunciation. An ESL teacher must comprehend these difficulties and develop strategies to help students master English grammar and pronunciation.

To successfully teach English as a second language, an educator must think like a student of languages, which means appreciating their complexities and oddities, and immerse the students in the cultural diversity that has grown around the English language.