Before they can begin to string words together, ESOL beginners need to become familiar with the basic units of English speech -- the English alphabet. It is important that you teach both the symbols of the English alphabet and the sounds associated with each symbol. According to the BBC, you can enforce the connection between the alphabet and spelling by asking students to call out a word that starts with that letter every time you call out a new letter of the alphabet. The broadcasting corporation also suggests using flashcards with words and pictures as students advance, so students can practice sounding words with the alphabet and connect them to concrete examples.
Focusing on greeting activities for beginners accomplishes two goals. First, it gives ESOL beginners a skill that they can use practically and immediately. Second, it introduces ESOL students to common sentence structures, like questions and answers. Begin the greeting activity by introducing yourself to your class. Then pass out a sheet or point to the page in the text book that lists greeting vocabulary and sentence construction. Ask students to write introductions, get into groups, and read them to each other. Walk around the room and correct errors. Finally, assign a new scenario to each group and ask them to act out a skit in which they introduce themselves. Perform the skits in front of the class and discuss different vocabulary/expressions for different situations, for instance, introduction to a large group, informal introductions, business introductions, etc.
Free form activities allow students to practice whatever English skills they want. Beginners often like these type of activities because they can get feedback on the skills they have acquired before class begins. The toilet paper activity is one free form activity. According to the Internet TESL Journal, teachers should pass a roll of toilet paper around the room and ask students to take as much or as little as they like. After each student takes some toilet paper, the teacher tells students that they must say something about themselves in English for each square of paper they have. Another free form activity is the free writing journal. Each day, teachers should give students a set amount of time, 10 or 20 minutes, for example, to write. Teachers should put two topics of prompts on the board, but students should be allowed to write anything. Students can choose to turn in their journals for comments and critique from the teacher.
Although beginning ESOL students may perform well in writing, reading and even speaking tasks, they may still have difficulty listening and comprehending speakers with an American accent. For this reason, listening activities are of special importance for beginners. To practice listening, instructors can have students listen to audio books, lectures, radio dramas and even songs in English. Then, teachers can use a combination of controlled and free-form exercises, such as quizzes, writing assignments and class discussions to gauge understanding. For students with pronounced listening difficulties, listening to English speaking with a transcript of the speech in front of them can help them learn to better comprehend the meanings of the words they hear.