Poetry can be really difficult when you're learning another language. Or does it really have to be so? Can you take something that seems daunting (difficult), and turn it into a learning experience? I'll show you some great ways to use poetry to improve your English. I'll also introduce you to a couple of fun poets that are hilarious. (Watch until the end!)

If you're preparing for the IELTS exam (academic OR general), you may be tempted to memorize several lines of answers to common questions, especially for the easier Part I of the exam. Watch the video to find out why that is a bad idea.

The short answer to the headline question is, "Yes!" Even if you're teaching students online in an environment with more than one student, your students can have the interaction they need to improve their English language skills.


So how can you, as a teacher, structure a lesson in an online lesson where they can have meaningful communication? How can they negotiate meaning with other students so that they feel that they are flexing and improving their language skills?


The key is skillful coordination of the online classroom. Just as in a traditional classroom you pair students of similar or different proficiency levels depending on your teaching objectives for the lesson, you put students in small groups or pairs to work on a problem that requires them to use language to solve a certain problem.


Microphone


If your online classroom offers a microphone feature for your students to use, learn to utilize it skillfully. In particular, turn off the microphones of students who are not working together. For instance, you might say, "John, ask Mary what her favorite sport is," or "John and Mary, look at the role play situation on the screen. John, you will play the part of the customer, and, Mary, you will be the manager. Work together to act out the situation and solve the customer's problem."
Being able to turn the microphone on and off is also important if you have a student who is dominating the conversation in a small class with about four students. Enable students to chat with you and each other through the chat feature of the class if students feel the need to communicate. You can simply tell a rather chatty student, "Thank you for your contribution!" and then open up the floor to other students.


Breakout Rooms


Some online classrooms offer the opportunity for small breakout groups to work together on a particular task. You, as the teacher, can assign students to a particular breakout room and then check in with them to see how the conversations are going and to answer questions students may have.
Small group and paired interaction is important for students to develop their speaking and listening skills in English. Some students will feel that online classes in which they are not working one-on-one with a teacher directly will limit their opportunities to practice. However, the opposite is true! You can skillfully guide your students and help them to practice English in an online environment just as you would in a traditional classroom.

As an English as a second language teacher in a public school, I learned quickly that it could be difficult to get my parents engaged. I had to relearn what engagement means, however, and consider the culture from which my parents come.

Writing an introduction to an essay or report can be tricky, or difficult. The tone of your entire paper depends on what you say in the beginning. There are several ways to start an essay or report, but here are a few of the more common ones.

1.) Quote - A relevant and bold quote by someone famous is a popular way to start an article or other type of lengthy paper. Make sure that your quote supports your thesis in some way.

2.) Statistic - People like to read numbers, fractions, and percentages. They pack a punch (get the reader's attention in a strong way). They focus the reader's thoughts on your subject right away.

3.) Anecdote - An anecdote is a little story, and by little, I mean three or four sentences at most. This story should relate to your thesis and your subject.

4.) Background information - Tell your readers a bit about the history of your subject. Keep it brief and to the point, however. You want to leave room in your introduction for your main point, your thesis.

5.) Contrast - Start your essay out with a story, a quote, or some other piece of information that is nearly the opposite of what you will discuss in your paper. You will startle the reader when you switch the viewpoint of your topic at the end of the introduction essay. For example, you might start out talking about how your mother used to put on make-up every morning before she left the house, and how now, she doesn't care, and how she would rather sleep late than get up early to do her make-up. This might be appropriate for an essay on the importance of self-image.

Check out the Pronunciation Check feature on my site to help you discover what types of words you are mispronouncing. First, click on a link to either the BBC or Voice of America and listen to a news story of interest to you. Read along with the transcript a few times. Then record yourself reading the transcript using the recording tool on the page. Play it back a few times to listen to yourself.

In addition to helping you improve your pronunciation, recording yourself helps you with your speed and intonation. Listen to the story you chose a few times, and compare how quickly and accurately you read with what the reporter says.

Students who have a good understanding of basic vocabulary and grammar structures in English are ready to present to audiences. Intermediate to advanced level students will benefit from learning how to give speeches and presentations. This skill is important especially in the business world in which a presentation can also be simply stating your opinion on a certain topic.
Prepare your students for giving presentations by teaching them the vocabulary
necessary to smoothly start and finish their presentations as well as how to
move forward during it. Giving opinions and assessments are also part of making
presentations. Teach your students vocabulary related to this topic as well.
 
Vocabulary List
 
This list of vocabulary and sentences for making presentations will help
your students give more seamless presentations:

-Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. My name is. . ., and we will be talking about. . .today.
-Thank you for having me today. I’d like to get started by
saying that. . .
-If you have any questions, please feel free to raise
your hand during the presentation and ask.
-We will have a time for
questions at the end of the presentation.
-Let’s move on to the next
topic.
-The next point is that. . .
-Moreover / However / In contrast (to) / Additionally (and other transition words and phrases)
 I believe that. . .
 I disagree because. . .
 I think you’re  right.
 I don't think that's correct / right.
 I agree with. .  .
 I respectfully disagree.
 I disagree in part because. .  .
 We will talk about that shortly.
 Trend
 From (date) to (date), we experienced / saw a rise (fall) in. . .
 Increasing / decreasing / rose or fell sharply (and other words to describe graphs)
 First / second / last / finally / in conclusion
 Thank you for your time, and have a good day.
 This concludes my presentation.
 
Family
 
Talking about students’ families is just one of many topic ideas for
presentations. Topics for ESL students should not generate anxiety in your
students. Choosing a topic with which they are familiar and for which they do
not have to do much research is especially appropriate for intermediate or
low-advanced level students. Family is something almost all students are
familiar with in the upper level classes. They may learn some new family member
vocabulary as they put together their presentations. Encourage your students to
use words related to family throughout their presentations. Give students a page
or time limit to keep their speeches manageable.
 
Customs
 
Have students pick one custom from their countries they want the class to
know more about. They may need to do some research to know more about the
background and history of the custom. This aspect of this topic makes it more
appropriate for more advanced students. Tell students to provide a picture or a
PowerPoint presentation (provided your classroom is equipped for them) to
provide a visual reference for students in the audience. They might also dress
up or do a demonstration of the custom.
 
Business
 
Provide hypothetical line or bar graphs or pie charts to your students.
Split the class up into a few groups, each with a different graph or chart. The
job of each group is to describe the trend on the graph, provide background
information for why the trend is what it is, and to give ideas to improve the
trend, if necessary. They might also provide ideas to build on the current
success of the company. Each person in the group can address a different aspect
of the trend. This gives students a taste of what presenting as part of a team
in a business environment might be like.
 
Tips
 
Many students will naturally be nervous about giving presentations.
Topics for ESL students that speak to what they already know or are easy to
research help them concentrate on learning the essential vocabulary of giving a
presentation. Giving a presentation is also about style and knowing the customs
of the country in which the presenter is speaking. Students have to think about
not reading from their note cards, injecting humor into their presentations,
keeping to a time limit, providing relevant visuals, and other behaviors that do
not necessarily involve learning vocabulary and grammar. Vocabulary and grammar
are also integral to giving a presentation, however. So, choosing topics for
your students that let them focus on mastering vocabulary and grammar when
making a presentation will help them become more effective presenters. Finally,
students should practice giving presentations more than once to their classmates
and to native English speakers. As they gain confidence, bring in a small
audience of native English speakers to the classroom and have students prepare a
presentation for them. This may be more appropriate for business English
learners and more advanced students.