ESL lessons for intermediate or advanced students should incorporate all the skills need in language acquisition. By doing this, the students are able to stretch their comfort zone.
Begin each class with a check in with the students. I have often begun with a writing prompt on the white board such as, "List 3 things you heard on the news yesterday. Pick one and list the key points reported on (This is the Who, What, When, Where, Why and How.)" After about five or ten minutes, I ask the students to read their list, giving the class an impromptu report on the key points of the report they chose.
This simple lesson touches on all the skills, which also gives the students an opportunity to discuss current events on their own terms.
Throughout the class, find ways to incorporate listening tools such as news reports in audio and video, songs, and movies. Several websites offer special reports for students. They are:
- The History Channel
- Discovery Channel
- Student CNN reports
- NPR
- HappyNews.com
Depending on the listening tool, have students write a quick summary, lead a discussion or create an alternate report. Have students share these with each other. Again, all of the language skills will be practiced.
Using themes for class units, also aids in bring practical experience to students. For instance, during Women's History month, I had students research a woman in a culture anywhere in the world, a woman from their own culture and an American woman with roots in their culture. They then had to write a compare and contrast paper on these women, which they presented in class, discussing and asking question of each other.
Finally, finding opportunities for students to practice their language skills outside the classroom can really boost their language self-esteem. Trips to stores, museums, historic sites, places of interest all afford opportunities to speak, listen, read and write. Before the trip, give students a scavenger list of items to learn about or a list of questions to answer. Have them write a report on their experience for the school newspaper, or if you do not have a school newspaper, begin a class blog.
