Strategies for ESOL

Strategies for ESOL
By Michael Adkins, eHow Contributor

ESOL stands for English to speakers of other languages. Its teaching strategies are very similar to those of English as a second language (ESL). Strategies for teaching ESOL learners revolve around spoken communication, written communication and reading skills. The strategies provided can work for a teacher or a student, and ESOL strategies tend to overlap in areas that create multiple learning opportunities in several areas.

Spoken Communication
The Clayton County School Systems suggests that opportunities for authentic English communication are important in learning English. Some of the strategies they suggest include role-playing situations, encouraging conversations and any opportunity to receive and send oral messages. Spoken communication occurs easily; however, the teacher must allow adequate response time in the conversation and not move too fast or beyond the student when engaging in conversation.
Written Communication
Written communication involves asking learners to copy passages from texts such as books, magazines and journals. Other ESOL strategies can involve basic grammatical exercises such as identifying the parts of speech and the inflection of verbs. Translating song lyrics or other interests of the students in their native language also makes an effective tool since it allows the students' familiarity with their native culture to engage in the learning process instead of resorting to repetitive textbook exercises.

Visuals
Visuals can play an integral role in mastering ESOL concepts. They include flash cards with pictures to help strengthen an oral response, computer presentations such as power point, mapping exercises that help the ESOL learner use his knowledge of vocabulary and writing skills, timelines of events and story maps.

Reading
According to the school district of Indian River County, reading and listening to English readers makes an effective ESOL strategy. Reading and hearing the passages read encourages the use of bilingual dictionaries to help with reading, provides ESOL learners with a visual reference to critically examine sentence structures, helps to expand a limited vocabulary through both reading and listening, and assists students in identifying essential vocabulary and structures.

Computer Aids
ESL.net provides multiple software programs designed to help ESOL students. The software helps students from the elementary level up to advanced language acquisition. The company’s products also include textbooks, listening devices, tools, and translators for ESOL learners and teachers.



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