You can help students develop pronunciation skills by finding out what words they have difficulties pronouncing. Then pronounce each word in the right way for them by using it in a sentence, without being judgmental. Some students could be mispronouncing a word if they speak a different dialect. Another strategy is to break out the word into syllables and write the students’ pronunciation along with the correct pronunciation, pointing out the differences between the two.
When a student doesn’t speak standard English, a teacher should identify what aspect of her syntax is incorrect. Then he should state what the child said using the proper grammar. The teacher could also write down what the student said alongside the right version, and point out to the student what her mistakes are.
Students should be aware that there is formal and informal language usage. They are likely to use less formal language at home and with their friends than they use in a classroom setting. Teachers should use formal English at school so that students can learn how to use correct language that everyone can understand. Teachers could write down informal sentences that students use alongside the formal way of saying the same thing. This makes children aware of the differences.
Stories appeal to children and can help drive home a lesson. Teachers could read a story to a class and then ask students to tell the story in their own words. You could also discuss the themes of the story with students. For instance, you could ask students to talk about aspects such as the plot of the story, the author’s purpose in writing the story and the characters and settings in the story.