Communication Tips and Techniques

Tip: Communication is the key to ESL students’ success as members of your classroom and the school.

Communicating with someone who doesn’t speak your language is as daunting to ESL students as it is to you. It isn’t impossible, though. Teachers, English-speaking students and ESL students need to be open to establishing connections so that ESL students learn to belong to their new country.

Technique: Create a classroom environment that facilitates students’ communication.

Creating a low-anxiety, welcoming classroom atmosphere is beneficial to all students. In such a classroom, ESL and non-ESL students alike will feel more comfortable learning and communicating.

• Express interest in students’ background

• Be aware of culture effects

• Avoid putting students in spotlight

• Let students decide when to speak

• Encourage native language maintenance
• Focus on the positive

• Sensitize your non-ESL students

• Acclimate students to your school

• Get the student’s name right

• Learn words/phrases in other language