The primary goal for an ESOL classroom is for students to use English to communicate with other people and demonstrate skill and proficiency in different settings and circumstances. The students should be able to demonstrate a cultural understanding and may need to overcome cultural perceptions in the classroom.
When ESOL students start to read, students may lack the comprehension to read in English. A technique to build on reading comprehension is to offer reading material, such as daily or weekly newspapers in English. This can help students draw attention to words that they do not know, as well as find the meanings of the word. Having students read the newspaper aloud after reading it to themselves can help them develop their retention and comprehension of vocabulary. Alternative reading may include fairy tales or picture books, depending on the student's comprehension level.
Having students listen and watch a video in English with captions can help them learn about pronunciation, actions or behavior, and put speech with words. Video can enhance teaching and language learning as it can reach students who process language differently. When including video in a classroom pedagogy, it is important to introduce the video and prepare students so they know what to concentrate on.
An alternative to offering caption video is to provide lyrics for students to listen to and learn. This can help them learn how to recognize words and pronounce sounds.
ESOL students should learn how to write in English, from basic sentences such as "I want an orange" to something more complex. Writing activities like keeping a journal in English of activities the student completed throughout the day can help students learn basic writing skills. More advanced ESOL techniques might involve how to write an e-mail, a blog or even write a business document in English. The writing of ESOL students can be reviewed on a consistent basis to provide feedback and avoid ongoing errors.
In the ESOL classroom, role playing can help students learn how to request information about a location of a place, information about a product or even learn valuable tools like how to leave a message. Role playing can help students demonstrate what to do and what to avoid while providing students with the opportunity to learn by observation. Role playing can also help students learn the protocols or social etiquette in a culture so that they can grasp what is different in English-speaking countries in comparison to their own. This may involve information about making eye contact, shaking hands and other forms of communication.
For more advanced ESOL students, a teaching technique may include offering a classroom debate with a subject given to students the week before to allow time for preparation. Students can practice expressing their opinions and beliefs, as well as providing evidence as to why their opinion is correct.