Know something about the cultural background of the students you are teaching. Teachers may unknowingly offend students they want to help. Try not to superimpose your own cultural or belief systems over others.
Start by role playing. A good way for non-native English speakers to learn verbal context is to let them pretend to be someone else. It is also okay to place them in pretend circumstances. Have them act out a grocery store scene in a movie, for example. Consider letting them act out a song as well. Be sure to use other students in the classroom as standbys. It makes the learning experience fun and takes a little pressure off, too. Make role play index cards, if applicable.
Build student vocabulary. Give students a new vocabulary list on a weekly basis. You can develop a list from common everyday experiences like going to the laundry or bank. Avoid simply getting a list online. If necessary, carry a notepad with you when you run your daily errands. Mix it up a bit and have students eventually develop and exchange lists on their own. Develop little acting skits from class vocabulary lists.
Increase listening skills. Have your students try to listen to English speakers as often as possible. This can be done by having them watch or listen to either radio or TV news, for example. News anchors tend to have very good diction and expressive style.
Be sure to let students talk aloud. In order to teach basic conversational English effectively, create an environment where students feel comfortable speaking aloud in front of their peers. This will dramatically improve their pronunciation skills and overall language ability.