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ESL or English as second language is a program to help students that do not speak English as their native language. With the use of specialized methods and techniques designed to teach the verbiage of English, including reading and writing. ESL has many varieties of instruction, the type of instruction will depend greatly on the age and level of your students.

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Competency. Enabling limited English speaking students to gain knowledge and understanding within the different aspects of the English language. Gearing students to have comprehension, speaking, reading, and composition of the English language through integrated lessons and cultural immersion.

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the format of your ESL classroom depends greatly on the age and level of your students. However, one things holds true for ESL and that is that the instruction is all in English.
In elementary, students participating in ESL are generally pulled out of their classrooms for a certain period of time to meet with their instructor.
In middle and high school, ESL may be an elective class and is given a specific class period.

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Depending on which format your instruction is run, typically a class will last for about 45 minutes. If you should be doing the pull out method, you may meet with your students for 15-20 minutes a day. If you are hosting an ESL class period then you will be working with your students for the full 45 minutes of class.

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Here is what you need to do...
Fist, of course you need to be qualified to teach in your state. In Texas, it is required that you have a four year degree and you must pass the required certification tests.
To specialize in ESL there is another test you must take in order to be certified to work with English learners.

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Not all learners are visual learners and not all of ESL instruction should be visual. However, when introducing new vocabulary it can be vital to show a representation of the word in order to help students define and understand the word.
Another use for visual education can include graphic organizers, flow charts, Venn diagrams, and concept maps that effectively help students to grasp information through visual memory.

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Working in groups helps students stay engaged and allows them to learn from each other. Group settings create a lower-risk learning environment where kids can simply communicate and makes learning more personal.

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When you are starting a new topic whether it is a new book, vocabulary, or a video try to have the materials available before the lesson. By giving the students the material early you are increasing the odds of them understanding and grasping the information during the lesson.

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It has always been said that kids will not learn from someone they don't like. It is vital to make connections with your students from day one. By including ice-breakers for the first few days can allow kids to open up more to you, but this connection has to continue through the year. Using games to help them relate the new information can be a great way to keep the fun in learning. Being able to understand and remember that students in ESL have a different culture and view of the world can be a way to allow deeper connections. As their teacher it is important to learn about their culture as we are expecting them to learn ours. Learning their culture can also ease lessons by implementing vocabulary and grammar that they can fully identify with.

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Technology is an amazing advancement that opens the world up for our students. This platform provides an active engagement of learning and can give the students a deeper learning experience. There are so many interactive games available that can be incorporated for learning vocabulary and writing programs that can help ESL students become effective English writers. Laptops and iPads have so many features that can aide in pronunciation and other vital skills that can help students connect their English learning with other subjects needed for they success in school.

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This is such a creative way to encourage student and teacher interactions. When the students switch roles and become teachers for the day this can build confidence and bring a new perspective to the class. Students speak in a language that other students can understand, sometimes better than the teachers explanations.

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What Can We Do To Foster Parent Involvement?

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What Can We Do To Foster Parent Involvement?

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Allow parents to feel like they are a part of their child's education. Some parents, especially those of English learners, may feel weary about becoming involved for a number of reasons. There is a language barrier or even a lack of understanding of school system and programs.

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Without communication there will be no connection between family and school and this involvement can be critical for children learning a new language and culture.
There are many options to allow this to take place!
You can ensure there is an interpreter present at all meetings, this will ensure the parents get every detail about their child's education from the programs they are joining to their success. In addition, provide the parents with a list of any bilingual staff that may be at the school, this will give them a contact list should they need to discuss anything else pertaining to their child's education.
Any progress reports or letters home should be translated into the parents native language. Again this allows the parent to be fully aware of how their child is progressing.
Learn the language yourself. This was stated under strategies within the classroom and it is a vital part of building a relationship with students and parents. By learning the language the parents will feel valued and become more receptive to communicating in the future.

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Educate parents on the U.S. school system

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Educate parents on the U.S. school system

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A lot of parents of ESL students may be unfamiliar with the school systems, maybe because they are new immigrants or they have not been in school before. Whatever the reason, we need to provide all families with the education surrounding our school and the programs offered.
Start with giving every family the operations of your school, including school hours, holiday schedule, day-to-day operations, and even schedules beyond your school (k-12 trajectory).
Ensure everyone is informed about your specific school policies. Does your school require a uniform or specific dress code or what books are required and will they be provided by the school?
Give parents all information pertaining to your language programs offered through your school and district. Explain how program works and why it is the best fit for their child. Offer parents and student to visit the class to give them a an inside view on the program. Remind parents that they have a choice and a say in their children's education. This includes offering every service available to aide their success; discuss lunch programs, interpreter services, and other supplementary programs available.

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A lot of parents work different hours than school teachers and this leaves them unavailable for more involvement at school. By offering times to meet with the family at home or within the community, parents are given a chance to be fully incorporated into their child's growth as well as being provided an opportunity for cultural inclusion in a hands-on approach.

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Provide tours of your school for new students. This can give both the child and parent a better understanding of the school. Use this opportunity to address any questions the family may have.
Try to incorporating a back to school night that is hosted in different languages, if your ESL population is mostly Spanish speakers then that should be the main focus of this event. This is a great way to get to know the incoming families in an informal and fun environment. Be sure to have translators at the event and include ice-breaker games as well as accommodations for transportation or child care. You want to provide opportunities for every family to be involved.

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English as a second language is a program that provides non-native English speakers tools and methodology to become proficient in the English language. Your program should have a variety of methods available for every level of learner, from kindergarten to twelfth-grade. Your first step in becoming an ESL teacher is to become a certified teacher with the specialization of ESL. Ensure your teaching methods have a variety of strategies that will speak to every kind of student and gives a deeper understanding of the content. Relationships are the key to building a trusting foundation with your students and their parents, providing different opportunities to build these relationships will allow you to connect better in the classroom.