How to be an effective ESL teacher

This post will focus on ESL teachers and students, but some of the advice I give can be applied to all teachers and students.

ESL teachers, we have a tough job. At times, we are taken for granted or not taken seriously. Sometimes from our counterparts or from people who don’t work in our profession. Everyone has an opinion. I feel your frustration. One thing I've learned over time is to maintain your true self. When you are true to yourself, you can be true to your craft. In my opinion, that’s what makes you an effective teacher.

Be Confident

Being confident in yourself is important in anything you do in life. It also helps to be an effective teacher. Having good posture, a clear speaking voice, and giving eye contact are sure ways to show confidence. It also helps draw the attention of your students. Being energetic is also a plus. Sometimes this is debatable, because it depends on the willingness and personality of the individual. I am not suggesting you have to be “bubbly,” but you want to show interest in your teaching to gain students’ interest.

Being confident doesn’t mean being conceited. There is a difference between feeling confident in yourself and thinking your better than people. Being conceited is a turn off and shouldn’t be expressed in the ESL (or any) classroom or working environment.

Being relatable

I love drinking coffee while teaching :) This picture was taken in 2007.

In general, I believe people like to feel they can relate to others. As a teacher, when students feel they can relate to their teacher, it helps them to feel more comfortable. Being relatable is expressing yourself in a way that students can agree, such as, admitting to making mistakes, showing more of your personality, or showing empathy. This also applies to way of dress.

Dressing in professional attire or business casual attire is a sure way gain respect from students. You don’t want to dress too fashionable or expensive. Be considerate of the economic demographic of the population of students you are teaching. Depending on the culture of the class, dressing like a fashion model can make students feel bad if they are not able to dress the same.

Take your time

As teachers, we are on strict schedules and have to get through the lesson in a timely manner. However, you don’t want to rush or go too slow in teaching your lessons. You want to make sure students are learning from you. What’s the point in getting through five lessons in a week if only ten percent of the class actually learned, understood, or grasped the material? Pace yourself and ask for student feedback. This will help you to find the balance.

Be honest

If you don’t know how to explain or answer a student’s question, state that. Oftentimes, teachers don’t like to admit they don’t know something. I’ve had this happen to me a lot. I found it easier to say, “I’m not sure, but will get back to you with answer,” than pretend I know the answer. Students respect honesty from their teachers. Like our students, we don’t know everything. It’s okay to admit that to your students. Be mindful not to act like you know everything in the beginning of your class semester. If you do and later you admit you don’t know something, students won’t take kindly to your admission. I know from personal experience.

These are just some ways to be an effective teacher. Every teacher and teaching style is different. If you take your time, be honest, and be humble, you will have a successful experience teaching your students.

For more tips and advice, check out my latest video from my ESL video series here.