Teaching Phonics to ESL Students

Each language has unique phonetic sounds that are learned by the language's speakers. English as a Second Language (ESL) students bring their understanding of sounds and phonetics to their attempts to learn the English language. When students are learning English, the absence of certain phonetic sounds creates difficulty in students' ability to hear certain sounds. Simple steps can be taken to ensure that phonics is understood and learned more easily by ESL students.

Things You'll Need

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Instructions

    • 1

      Use simple words as you begin to teach phonics to your students. Three- or four- letter words are ideal for beginning phonics learning. Add longer words only after the students have mastered the sounds of the short words. For every new rule you teach your students, use simple words as the first few examples.

    • 2

      Create short dialogues in which the students use the words that are being practiced in class.

    • 3

      Over-enunciate words and letters for your students. Move your mouth more than you normally would.

    • 4

      Have students write down what they hear you say. Make a note of the letters they are having a hard time hearing.

    • 5

      Devote class periods to exercises that help your students differentiate between B, P, V, T and L. Have your students feel your throat and mouth as you say these letters. Ask them to focus on where the sound is formed in the throat and how much air pressure is necessary for each word. Instruct the students to try to imitate what they feel.

    • 6

      Have your students repeat a word after you and look at its spelling. While they are looking at the word, have them repeat it. Instruct your students to write the word down. After the word has been written down, have them spell it aloud together. Ask your students to say the word again after they have spelled it.

    • 7

      Make copies of a news or pop-culture article and bring it to class. Read it to your students, and encourage your students to read the story back to you.

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