Selection of teaching methods and materials
Fluency skills How to develop fluency skills Encouraging students to talk
Fluency:
- Natural language use. they are related to four characteristics: speed and continuity,
coherence, context-sensitivity, and creativity.
- Natural and normal, including native-like use of pausing, rhythm, intonation, stress, rate of
speaking, and use of interjections and interruptions.
it is important to make your students feel comfortable speaking. They may feel embarrassed about
their inability to speak English fluently. Or perhaps they are just shy.
1. Build Fluency
The most important thing to remember is that your students need to be speaking English as
much as possible. The more they practice, the better they speak. The better they speak, the
more confidence they will gain. And this cycle will continue to build fluency. Don't make the
grammar lessons the focal point of your instruction. Don't do too much teacher talk and
lengthy explanations. Choral responses where the students recite the same "response" --
whether it be a word, phrase, sentence or dialogue -- are an effective tool to build vocabulary
skills that lead to comprehension. This method helps to build success for all learners. So get
your students to talk, and keep them talking!
2. Focus on Individual Needs
With the current educational journals consumed with such topics as Differentiated Education,
Meeting the Needs of All Learners, Maximizing the Disconnect Between the Real World and
the Classroom, etc., it is important that you, too, focus on each student. Choose those skills
that are the most important for him or her, and tailor your instruction accordingly. While
Student A may be struggling with learning the alphabet and initial sounds, Student B might be
reading at a fourth-grade level. I'm sure you get the point. Challenge all of your students with
material at their own level to ensure language progress. My own teaching mantra is, "All
learners can learn if we but know how to teach them." The onus is on you as a teacher. That is
the unique skill you have to offer.
3. Provide High-Interest Engagement
We all learn more when we are engaged. Think of times when learning was the most
enjoyable for you. Try to emulate those teaching styles. Was it how the teacher interacted
with the class and how you were treated with respect, fairness, patience and acceptance?
Maybe the teacher planned lessons that involved more than just passive learning. Perhaps
there were learning activities with movement, which allowed for maintaining the students'
attention levels and increasing their classroom participation. Did you have a creative teacher
who used a variety of materials like flashcards, games, magazine and newspaper articles,
pictures, photos, fieldtrips, projects, technology, role plays, guest speakers, simulations or
question-and-answer sessions? Did they mix it up when it came to working individually and
in small groups or whole-class instruction? Did they allow choice in student learning and ask
for input as far as needs and interests?
4. Model
How you talk in your lessons, when both focusing on instruction and relating with your
students, will increase their language ability. Speak slowly and clearly so that the ESL student
will understand. Choose words that are easier for them to grasp. Use visuals whenever
possible so that students can also read the directions at the same time. Teaching with two or
more modalities heightens understanding and learning. Offer repetition and review until your
students have mastery. Always be positive toward them, and continue to praise them for
speaking to encourage more speaking. Develop a strong, open and caring relationship toward
each of your students, and in turn they will strive to be the best students possible. I guarantee
you will have a more successful classroom of ESL students.
5. Allow Time
Learning a language is developmental. There are endless factors in acquiring a language, so it
is important that you put this in perspective. When you talk to a student, allow wait time for
the response. When they struggle with a certain skill or concept, help them over this hurdle.
Everyone learns in different ways, and once you embrace this idea, you and your students will
be more apt to enjoy the learning process together.
