7 Teaching Strategies For ESL Teachers To Teach English As A Global Language
Research reveals that English language learners will make up to 25% of the children in the American classrooms and there are currently 5 million children classified as ELLs.
Teaching English as a global language involves exposing students to a variety of accents, dialects, and cultural backgrounds to acknowledge the qualities that have made English so widely spoken and to prepare them to engage in this global linguistic experience. Gaining a greater comprehension of the special requirements of English language learners and the most effective teaching strategies might be beneficial for educators who work with them. In the context of teaching ESL, teachers might use the following seven crucial tactics.
7 Tips On How To Teach English As A Global Language
If you as an ESL teacher find it difficult to harness your 21st-century teaching skills, here are a few tips to help you out:
1. Emphasize The Global Nature Of The Language
Giving pupils background information is crucial when teaching English as a global language because it enables them to comprehend how English came to be used worldwide. Give a succinct history lesson that follows the development of English from its birthplace of England to the numerous nations that now use it as their primary language.
Talk about the reasons why English gained global traction while other languages did not. Students can truly understand how English has evolved throughout the years and how its adaptability, inclusivity, and openness have contributed to its widespread use.
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2. Examine Attitude Toward English
It may be challenging for educators and learners who have been trained to speak and listen to English in a certain ‘correct’ manner to understand the qualities that make English a universal language. Make a list of the words you use and the music you want to hear. Examine the origins of these words and sounds to understand the genuine flexibility of the English language worldwide.
This activity reminds us that English is a language that is always changing, becoming more powerful and descriptive while still expressing the diversity of human experience. It has rarely followed grammatical or lexical rules throughout history, choosing instead to act as a global conduit for open communication between people.
3. Remind Students That English Is Not Linked To A Country
It may be challenging for educators and learners who have been trained to speak and listen to English in a certain ‘correct’ manner to understand the qualities that make English a universal language. Make a list of the words you use and the music you want to hear. Examine the origins of these words and sounds to understand the genuine flexibility of the English language worldwide.
This activity reminds us that English is a language that is always changing, becoming more powerful and descriptive while still expressing the diversity of human experience. It has rarely followed grammatical or lexical rules throughout history, choosing instead to act as a global conduit for open communication between people.
4. Students Might Use English With Other Non-Native Speakers
It is important to remind students studying English as a global language that, statistically speaking, they are more likely to utilize the language while communicating with non-native speakers than when chatting with native speakers. This is because there are more non-native English speakers than native ones.
An estimated 70–75 percent of English speakers worldwide are non-native speakers. It's conceivable that some students may eventually come into an unexpected accent or dialect of English, even if they may have very defined expectations for where and with whom they will speak the language.
5. Emphasize Fluency Over Accuracy
To make sure they are understood when speaking, pupils should learn to read the body language of those around them. While teaching adults, some students will place a high value on using proper terminology, pausing, hesitating, and self-correcting to the point where they annoy their audience. Some pupils will speak incoherently for a long time and ignore all use rules.
Prepare pupils for the eventuality that they will be misunderstood at some point when speaking English in a global context. To communicate with individuals from all over the world who speak different dialects of English at different proficiency levels, educate your students to pay attention to what their listeners are saying, modify their speech accordingly, and put intelligibility first.
6. Explain Your Students That There Is No Standard Pronunciation
Even English native speakers may find it challenging to distinguish between various accents. Students will find it simpler to comprehend people and communicate in a global English environment if they hear a range of pronunciations more often. Certain educators tend to paraphrase what their pupils say, taking in what they hear and applying it to their accents without thinking twice.
Try not to overcorrect or ‘translate’ a student's pronunciation if you and the class can grasp what they are saying. Any incomprehensible noises will be eliminated with continued exposure to the language and meaningful English-language discussions, all without severely restricting their ability to communicate.
7. Encourage Multicultural Atmosphere
To fully utilize English as a global language, you must incorporate as much culture as possible into your classroom. Through engaging exposure to new experiences, these activities will also help your kids develop cultural and social competencies, which will improve their 21st-century abilities.
Encourage your pupils to present a little aspect of their culture. You may still ask your students to discuss things from their lives that they enjoy, such as cuisine, music, sports, literature, hobbies, and more, even if they are all from the same nation. Additionally, you may invite guest speakers, play music, or display movies to demonstrate how English is utilized to portray a worldwide perspective.
Teach English As A Global Language
Teachers with a Bachelor of Education in TESOL must approach teaching English as a global language with the same openness, adaptability, and inclusion that initially encouraged its widespread acceptance. You may assist your pupils in making the most of this language by adhering to these guidelines, which will enable them to communicate and collaborate across cultural boundaries as well as fully convey the real-life experiences of people everywhere.
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