Determine the reasons why ESL learners are enrolling in the program. Possible reasons can be a desire to pursue higher education, to improve their English skills as job-seekers or employees, to meet family and social needs, or to generally improve their English skills.
Conduct a needs assessment of the ESL learners to determine their proficiency in English. Areas to consider are their English skills, literacy in their native languages, language use in their everyday lives and what the learners expect to learn in the class. Determine what assessment tools will be used that are appropriate for the group of learners.
Create a self-assessment survey questionnaire that can filled out by learners to indicate their needs and areas of interest. The questionnaire can be in English or their native languages, shown in pictures or presented through a foreign language interpreter. The teacher can prepare the questionnaire ahead of time or base the questionnaire on class discussions.
Interview the learners one on one or in small groups. Communicate in their native language or in English to gather information about their English proficiency, interests and expectations of the ESL program.
Encourage learners to keep journals about their learning activities, experiences in the program and plans for the future. Use the journals to gather information about their educational needs.
Ask students to prepare timelines in writing or in pictures that show their goals and major personal events. Discuss the progress that is being made toward reaching those goals.