ELT Basics: A Beginner's Guide to English Language Teaching

Contents

Resources for Teaching Language Skills
Resources on Teacher Skills in the ELT Classroom
Examples
Sample Worksheets and Templates
Proficiency Scales
Advocacy Resources
Additional Resources

Resources for Teaching Language Skills 

Teaching Reading

• What Does Research Tell Us About Teaching Reading to English Language Learners?, by Suzanne Irujo (article)
• Reading 101 for English Language Learners, by Kristina Robertson (article)
• Steps for Teaching Reading to ESL Students: ESL Reading Strategies (article)
• Teaching Reading to Adult English Language Learners: Trainer Guide, from The CAELA Guide for Adult ESL Trainers (publication)

Teaching Writing

• Improving Writing Skills: ELLs and the Joy of Writing, by Kristina Robertson (article)
• Write ON! Writing Strategies for the ESL Classroom, by Claudia Pesce (article)
• Teaching Writing to ESL/EFL Students: Tips and Activities for Any Level, by Shelynn Riel (blog)
• Teaching Writing to Adult English Language Learners: Trainer Guide, from The CAELA Guide for Adult ESL Trainers (publication)
• ESL Writing Activities for Kids & Adults (webpage)

Teaching Speaking

• “Teaching Speaking: Activities to Promote Speaking in a Second Language,” by Hayriye Kayi (journal article)
• Five Tips for Getting the ESL Student Talking, by Marc Anderson (blog)
• Teaching Speaking in an ESL Classroom, by International TEFL Academy (video)
• How to Teach Conversational English: 9 Best Practices, by Stacia Levy (article)

Teaching Listening

• How to Teach Listening in the ESL Classroom: 15 Valuable Activities That Create Solid Skills, by Ruth Wickham (blog)
• TESOL: How to Teach Listening Skills, by OnTESOL (blog)
• How to Teach Listening to ESL Students, by ESLSpeaking.org (article)
• Ways to Help Adult ESL Students Improve Their Listening Skills (blog)

Integrated Skills

• Teaching ESL/EFL Reading and Writing, 2nd Edition (2020), by I. S. P. Nation & J. Macalister; Routledge. (book)
• Teaching ESL/EFL Listening and Speaking, 2nd Edition (2020), by I. S. P. Nation & J. Macalister; Routledge. (book)

Resources on Teacher Skills in the ELT Classroom 

• The TESOL 6 Principles for Exemplary Teaching of English Learners®, by TESOL International Association
• "ELT Skills: Jan’s Top 10" (PDF), by Jan Dormer
• “Checklist for Helping English Learners in the Classroom” (PDF), by Jan Dormer
• "Useful Phrases to Teach and Post" (PDF), by Jan Dormer
• "Tips for Modifying Lessons for English Learners" (PDF), by Jan Dormer
• "Effective Pair and Group Work" (PDF), by Jan Dormer
• 5 Characteristics of Successful EFL/ESL Teachers, by EFLSensei.com (article)
• 10 Fundamental Skills all EFL/ESL Teachers Should Have, by EnchantedESL.com (article)

Examples

Video 

Lesson for Beginning-Level Students: Family Tree (From Chapter 4)

Scaffolds

• Following are some additional examples of scaffolds for English learners:
  • audio supports
  • gesturing and facial expressions
  • providing translations
  • embedding definitions
  • bilingual, learner, or picture dictionaries
  • paraphrasing
  • See "Additional ELT Scaffolds" (PDF), by Jan Dormer, for in-depth discussion and usage examples for using dictionaries, gestures, and translation
  • Graphics
  • 7 types of graphic organizers for education, by Lucidchart (blog)
  • The Ultimate List of Graphic Organizers for Teachers and Students, by Creately (article)

Sentence Frames and Starters

• 26 Sentence Stems For Higher-Level Conversation in the Classroom, by Terry Heick (article)
• ELL Sentence Stems (PDF), from Skyline High School Library, Sammamish, Washington, USA (document)
• 100 Sentence Starters to Engage Students in Every Subject, by Kristen Nance (blog)

Error Correction Codes

"Correcting English Learner Writing" (PDF), by Jan Dormer

Rubrics 

• Foreign Language Rubrics: A Guide to Writing Analytic and Holistic Rubrics, by Revel Arroway (blog)
• “Developing and Using Rubrics to Support Learner Success,” from Supporting Post-secondary English Language Learners, by Seneca College and Humber College; course authors Gloria McPherson and Catherine Dunn (open course module)

Sample Worksheets and Templates

• “Differing Cultural Norms” (.docx)
• Appendix B (PDF) includes the following worksheets:
  • Song Key Words
  • Surveys
  • Interviews
  • Find Someone Who
• Triple A Lesson Plans
  • Triple A Lesson Plan Template (Simple)
  • Triple A Lesson Plan Template (Detailed)
  • Triple A Lesson Plan (Sample Lesson): Coming Soon!

Proficiency Scales

• ACTFL Proficiency Guidelines
• CEFR Proficiency Scale
• WIDA English Language Development Standards Framework
• Canadian Language Benchmarks (PDF)
• Interagency Language Roundtable Scale (Language Testing International) 
• Information about Proficiency Scales (Language Testing International)

Advocacy Resources 

General Advocacy

• Advocacy for English Learners: An Overview (PDF), by Diane Staehr Fenner (document)
• TESOL Advocacy Action Center
• Be an Advocate for English Language Learners (article), by Valentina Gonzalez

Testing Advocacy

• English Language Testing Society: This society aims to “advocate for excellence in English language testing. ELTSociety will work to advance, improve, promote, and develop a widespread understanding of guidelines and best practices for language assessment systems world-wide.”
• Let’s Dump the Obsession With Standardized Testing, By Larry Ferlazzo (opinion piece)

Additional Resources 

• Career Resources: TESOL International Association’s Career Planning Tools help guide English language educators at all stages of their career. 
• Position Statement Against Discrimination of Nonnative Speakers of English in the Field of TESOL (March 2006, TESOL International Association)