Sloane Atkinson

From an adult ESL class: Practice is very important, so there is always weeky homework - and tests! I espouse variety to pique their interest, and have created many fabulous lesson plans directly from student suggestions. For example, students suggested (for our final class project) that they learn by heart the names of all the states, and their respective capital cities. Further, each student was assigned to discover an interesting and informative piece of information about a specific state of their choosing. A group of students who were artistically talented drew a huge blank map of the United States (with only the shape of each state) to use on the stage and students were individually directed to go forward (at the all school presentation) to name their state, its capital, and other pertinent information. This was by far the most successful student presentation and the students learned well what they all wanted to know about the great variety of the states in their new country!
Then we had a potluck supper, students partaking of yummy delights from countries other than their native countries.
ESL is not only about learning the language, but also becoming able to use it with fluency, of course.
There is always much laughter and comraderie in my classes, making learning a new language fun, rather than a chore!
Over the years, I have also tutored individual students of all ages, from many different countries.