Breaking Through the Language Barrier: Effective Strategies for Teaching English as a Second Language (ESL) to Secondary School Students in Mainstream Classes

Teaching students for whom English is not their first language is a huge challenge for any educator. It is frustrating and demoralising for teachers and their students if the language barrier prevents learning and progress in the classroom. But, with ever increasing numbers of English as a Second Language (ESL) students in secondary schools – there is now a majority in international schools – teachers need to know how to overcome common problems and teach ESL students effectively. This concise and informative book provides strategies and practical advice that teachers can use every day in the classroom to help ESL students understand and get to grips with their subject. It includes advice on using the textbook, cultural differences, realistic timescales for learning, and language and grammar that is easy to understand; plus chapters on teaching specific subjects. Patricia Mertin is Mother Tongue co-ordinator at the International School of Dusseldorf and has vast experience of teaching ESL students.