While there is not a limited list of phrases for any discussion, creating a basic glossary with your ESL students is an effective way to prepare them to put their English skills into practice. Start your discussion instruction by selecting common phrases such as “How are you” and having learners create a glossary containing these go-to word collections. With this glossary in hand, your ESL students may feel less daunted by the prospect of engaging in a conversation.
Instead of having students discuss things that are of little importance, engage them in topical discussions for authentic practice. Pair your learners, placing students of similar ability levels together, and have them discuss current events. To facilitate this discussion, assign each student the task of locating a newspaper article about a contemporary event the night before the planned discussion, then start the discussion with an explanation of what he found in the article. As ESL students move through these authentic conversations, their skills will naturally develop.
For ESL students to succeed in conversation, they must not only speak with ease, but also actively listen. Instruct your students in the art of active listening, explaining to them, for example, that it is important to look at the speaker while he is speaking. Ask students to practice these skills when engaging in conversations, as doing so can make it easier for them to actively participate in conversations as they will more likely understand their partner’s message.
Helping your ESL students build their conversation skills is often as simple as sitting down with them and engaging in conversations. Give each ESL student a little one-on-one attention weekly, having a conversation with each student separately. In doing so, you not only show your students that you care and are eager to help them build their skill, you also give yourself the chance to see where each student is at in the English language acquisition process, allowing you to better create future lessons.