Southern Ontario Cooperative of ESL Ministries
by Roslyn Zehr One of the first skills I learned as a novice ESL instructor in preparing lesson plans was how to supplement the assigned textbook with “realia”—authentic materials and objects from everyday life that can be used as teaching aids. Realia can be blended into different types of English lessons at any level and […]
by Frances Gray and Roslyn Farmer On the SOCEM website you will find many resources for ESL teachers. Among them is our series of ESL Bible studies for small groups (see here). Our work started at a meeting with Pastor Nestor Abdon of Peoples Church. He asked us if we would write a series of Bible […]
by Herondina Gabriel I lost count of the times I caught myself thinking or commenting, “Wednesday evening ESL class is one of the highlights of my week.” Volunteering as a beginners’ teacher at Parkway Forest Community Church gives me such joy and fulfillment. It is something I feel, and it seems unexplainable. I go there […]
Thanksgiving – skit, Powerpoint presentation of Thanksgiving, Thanksgiving games, special pumpkin tarts and whipped cream for refreshments, etc. Remembrance Day – interviews with war vets, attending police choir with seniors, history of the war presentation, observation of 2 minute silence with the playing of the trumpet, etc. Christmas – games, singing, Christmas lights tour in Simcoe with […]
Baking muffins, making pizza and more. Baking Muffins The ingredients were introduced one by one with the packages also on display. Students listened as the method of preparing the batter was described and executed. A sheet with the pictures of the ingredients and of the method was handed out (resources below). Students had to listen and watch […]
Below short list of ideas for special events to host for and with your ESL students from our friends at APC. Nursing Home Visit Christmas Party Chinese New Year Party Summer BBQ Summer Party Summer Outing Fall Outing Year End Party Other special events: Weddings Easter Play and Concert Special Summer ESL Class Fruit Picking […]
Immigrant Mental Health At the SOCEM Gathering in October 2011, Stephen Cheng talked about life stresses among immigrants. A Healthy Mind: Supporting Newcomers Through Stress An interesting article by Marion Chang and Stephen Cheng Outside Resources for Mental Health Services Links to many government sites
Click on the links below to visit the sites of some organizations that can help you to help newcomers. Intercultural Network Canada is dedicated to “helping you reach your intercultural world”. They offer tools, strategies, opportunities and tips at their website. A 4-page pamphlet filled with tips and principles on building meaningful relationships across cultures […]
Muriel Saville-Troike Written for students encountering the topic for the first time, this is a clear and practical introduction to Second Language Acquisition (SLA). It explains in nontechnical language how a second language is acquired; what the second language learner needs to know; and why some learners are more successful than others. Introducing Second Language […]
Dwight Gradin, Mission Training International (http://www.mti.org/) If you see language learning as an academic course of study, you will approach it that way. Some people have only one model, one way to engage any intense learning experience: “Hit the books; study like mad; cram at the last minute.” Hopefully, the following will give you a better way to […]