Tips for Teaching Beginners: Gathering XVIII Workshop Highlights

By Nancy Kingdon

INTRODUCTION

On October 28, 2023, fifteen participants shared their collective wisdom, as they discussed their top three student learning needs, plus their top four ESL teaching issues. Participants were surveyed ahead of time by Nancy Kingdon, with survey results noted below.

SUMMARY of what you told me were your top STUDENT LEARNING NEEDS:

• Memory issues with older adults, helping students remember vocabulary….brainstorming alternative learning strategies.
• Comprehension and Pronunciation issues, especially in multi-level classes.
• Encouraging conversation outside classroom, such as using simple social dialogue with friends.

SUMMARY of what you told me were your top TEACHING ISSUES:

• Curriculum needs, finding lessons at multiple levels, building vocabulary for progressive learning.
• Comprehension and Pronunciation issues, especially in multi-level classes.
• Giving students enough time to practice speaking, practice pronunciation, and stay engaged.
• Irregular attendance, late arrivals and teaching individuals at different levels, because of missed classes.

CURRICULUM RESOURCES

Discussion groups came up with amazingly inspiring ideas, but here I have room to discuss only one— the group’s curriculum suggestions, including pros and cons for each. Here is a sampling:

PHONICS FOR ESL Sophie Wang’s Phonics Book for Adults has Canadian content, copies are allowed, it can be scanned onto the computer, has good pictures and costs $70.00, all of which are considered pros. Cons include the fact that activities do not work online, there is no colour, and the resource is not Bible-based.

ELLI ELLI is a great online resource covering multi-level learners; it has simple audios and visuals, and offers great assessment tools facilitating immediate feedback, all of which are pros. Cons are its price of $140 for 16 students, and it’s not Bible-based.

LINC ESL LINC 1-4 and LINC 5-7 offers free online access, is Canadian, can be photocopied, is readily accessible, well-researched, and gives progressive activities, all noted as pros. Cons include it’s not Bible-based, and it’s more geared to teachers than non-teachers.

LOTW Light of the World (Literacy Evangelism Curriculum) includes Bible-based lessons, serves non-teachers, includes structured lesson components of vocabulary, conversation, pronunciation, syllable stress, grammar, exercises and games, a bible story and homework for each lesson; beginner level has 50 PowerPoint lessons on YouTube for free plus LOTW has books for sale on Amazon, all of which are pros. Cons include USA content, and 50 lessons building on one another, so students cannot easily join in mid-semester.

TIPS FOR TEACHING BEGINNERS

While over twenty TIPS FOR BEGINNERS were shared during the workshop, I’ve chosen seven to highlight:

1. Use lots of pictures; write words next to pictures; use binder-sized white erase board during class to teach vocabulary;
2. Engage students using ‘hands-on’ objects or tasks such as holding a globe, or using a puzzle or game to teach a concept.
3. Teachers should speak only 30% of class time, to allow students 70% speaking time in each class.
4. Repetition is vital for English beginner levels. MODEL-REPEAT-SOLO learning strategy used by LOTW is extremely helpful, because students hear the words spoken by the teacher twice, then they listen while classmates practice the word, and finally, students individually speak the word aloud, practicing pronunciation.
5. “Teach the student, not the lesson” is good advice. Praying for students, sharing God’s Word with them during classes and lovingly caring for them as individuals matters.
6. English Corner pairs well with an ESL ministry. For example, Evangel Church’s invitation to students to attend an ENGLISH CORNER conversational opportunity after the morning church service on Sundays has resulted in many students coming out to church, and even two students being baptized.
7. Relational approach is needed, to show the heart of Christ to each student. For example, encourage community, build relationships, go on field trips such as to the grocery store, and use encouraging body language when students are pronouncing words well.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Workshop presenter Nancy Kingdon is the Volunteer Coordinator of ESL Ministry at Evangel Pentecostal Church in Oshawa, Ontario, using LOTW (Light of the World) curriculum. She is also a board member for LEI-Canada (Literacy-Evangelism International-Canada), a freelance writer and a published author of three books including Humming Words, The Blueprint Finding Your Spiritual Purpose and Identity and Arising Rejoicing: A Collection of Devotional Poetry. She can be reached by email at info@writinglegacy.com