I have pretty good English skills and I’ve been helping my neighbors and friends improve theirs. I didn’t really learn English in school or through a course. It’s been years of watching movies, reading, and searching online to build my knowledge.
But now that I’m trying to teach others, I feel a bit lost about how to organize a proper plan for them. How can I use my English skills to help others improve in a structured way?
Remember to use your body language! Gestures and facial expressions help a lot. Speak slowly and clearly because some of them might be watching your lips to get extra clues.
CathyGenesis said:
Remember to use your body language! Gestures and facial expressions help a lot. Speak slowly and clearly because some of them might be watching your lips to get extra clues.
Thanks, I actually do that already! They’ve even said I could make a good teacher, so that’s encouraging!
Teaching a second language doesn’t have to be hard. Just keep engaging them with interesting stuff that’s around their level. If they don’t get something, repeat, explain, use synonyms, or even gestures. Keep it fun and they’ll keep learning.
It depends on their current English level. If they’ve got the basics down, you could try activities like book clubs or watching TV shows together and discussing them. If they’re still beginners, though, you might want to find a more structured program or use some professional resources to guide them.
> Can I teach English if I’m not a teacher?
Are you asking about written or spoken English?
If it’s spoken, you could take inspiration from early Hollywood movies. They found that a neutral accent is easier for a global audience. Don’t stress humor too much, as it often doesn’t translate well. Focus on listening and understanding.
Teaching English involves more than grammar. I always try to explain common sayings too, like “nip it in the bud.” It helps people understand everyday conversations better.
It sounds like conversational English should be your focus. Imagine what they might need on a trip to an English-speaking city—ordering at a restaurant, asking for directions, booking a hotel, that kind of stuff. It’s all about using the language naturally.
You could even have them plan a vacation to an English-speaking place and present their itinerary to the group. I’ve found projects like this help people practice real-life situations.
If you’re serious about teaching English, there are some terms you need to look up: TEFL, ESL, IELTS, TOEFL, CELTA, DELTA. These are all related to teaching English as a second language.
You could start with a TEFL course. There are many online ones that give you the basics of lesson planning and teaching. It might also help to look up the IELTS test and its levels—it’ll give you an idea of what your students need to know. CELTA and DELTA are more advanced, in case you want to make this a career.
Get a solid textbook and follow it closely. Publishers have online catalogs where you can find these. Sorry, I can’t recommend any specific books here due to forum rules.
There are plenty of resources available for teaching, even for English. If you want to stick to a formal curriculum, you’ll find many options for teaching ESL, and some are even free.
It’s awesome you’re helping others! If you’re looking for books on grammar, sentence structure, or punctuation, just search for ‘English Grammar’ on any book site. There are even bilingual guides out there if you need one.
Before teaching, focus on proofreading. I noticed a few small grammar mistakes in your post. It’s always good for an English teacher to be really precise.