Professional Development: Introduction to teaching ESOL

This 9-hour course for teachers and volunteers who are teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages will include 6 weekly sessions of 90 minutes each. There will be a focus on the context of teaching asylum seekers and refugees in a drop-in situation, rather than a traditional classroom setting, although many of the basics will apply to both. We will discuss the particular needs of asylum seekers and how we can support them and build confidence.

We will cover ideas for fun and engaging activities, particularly those which require minimal preparation and resources. There will be an introduction to some of the principles of language teaching methodology and classroom management, and we will take a brief look at how to teach English grammar, pronunciation and vocabulary, as well as the 4 skills of speaking, listening, reading and writing.

By the end of this short course, you will have a collection of activities to use with your students and some ideas on catering for groups of mixed levels. You will understand the importance of putting the focus on the learner and how to do that in your teaching. You will be able to identify some useful websites and online resources which can provide ideas and materials.