Teacher Tips for New ESL Teachers: A Humorous Guide to Classroom Management and Professional Development
Welcome, brave souls, to the wonderful world of teaching English as a Second Language (ESL). If you’re new to this, you’re probably filled with a mix of excitement, fear, and the occasional urge to run screaming into the nearest forest. Fear not! As a veteran of the classroom trenches, I’m here to offer you some sage advice, sprinkled with the kind of wisdom that only comes from years of experience—and a sense of humor.
The First Rule of ESL Club: Don’t Panic
Your first day as an ESL teacher might feel like you’ve been dropped into a foreign planet. Your students will look at you with a combination of curiosity and mild terror, similar to how you’d look if someone handed you a live octopus and asked you to knit it a sweater. Stay calm. Smile. Pretend you know what you’re doing.
Classroom Management: The Art of Herding Cats
Managing an ESL classroom is like trying to organize a flash mob of caffeinated squirrels. Here are some tips to maintain order and sanity:
1. Establish Ground Rules: On Day One, lay down the law. Make it clear that while you’re the fun, approachable teacher, you also have the power to assign homework that would make Shakespeare weep.
2. Use Visual Aids: Humans are visual creatures. Use pictures, flashcards, and videos. Risk looking like a moron and use mime. Even if your students don’t understand your message, they’ll get a good laugh.
3. Interactive Activities: Get students involved with games and group activities. If they’re busy competing to see who can name the most fruits in English, they’re less likely to notice you Googling “how to teach past perfect tense.”
4. Positive Reinforcement: Praise and rewards work wonders. Just don’t overdo it, or you’ll find yourself running a classroom where students expect a parade every time they correctly conjugate a verb.
Professional Development: Because Learning Never Stops
1. Attend Workshops: Look for ESL workshops and seminars. They’re a great way to learn new techniques and meet other teachers who understand the unique joy of explaining phrasal verbs to a room full of blank stares.
2. Join Teacher Communities: Online forums, social media groups, and local teacher meet-ups are excellent for sharing tips, resources, and occasionally venting about that one student who insists on using “ain’t” in every sentence.
3. Read, Read, Read: Stay updated with the latest in ESL teaching. Subscribe to educational blogs, journals, and newsletters. It’s like being in school, but without the cafeteria food.
Provide ELLs with vocabulary journals where they can record newly acquired words, their definitions, and usage. Encourage them to add personal notes, sentences, or stories that connect with each word. Periodically reviewing and discussing these journals can help reinforce understanding and retention.
Surviving (and Thriving) in the ESL Jungle
Remember, teaching ESL is not just about imparting knowledge; it’s about connecting with your students and making the learning process enjoyable. Laugh at your mistakes, celebrate your successes, and always keep a stash of chocolate for those particularly challenging days.
So, new ESL teacher, go forth with confidence! Equip yourself with patience, a sense of humor, and the occasional dance move to wake up your class. You’ve got this. And if all else fails, just remember: you’re the one who gets to assign the homework.
Good luck, and may your classroom always be filled with the sound of enthusiastic (if occasionally confused) learners.
Are you a new teacher and need tips or just a kind hand to hold? Drop me an email at skybyrdteacher@skybyrdteacher.com.
