There are many techniques used in teaching English to students who do not consider it a first language.

Reading

This techniques uses reading material developed for young learners such as kids and teens. It is called TEFL and has become more and more popular. By using simple reading material, that has a more conversational tone than those developed for adults, these materials introduce learners to English words and sentence structures in a fun and engaging way. Children’s literature in particular uses things like rhymes and a play in words to teach pronunciation.

Teachers who use this technique often use a strategy called multiple pass. The first time the book is used, the teacher pauses to elaborate on complicated words or concepts. The students are then asked to go through the work on their own, and without pause.

Blended learning

This is a relatively new technique that is now under hot discussion in the ESL circles. It was based on very new research that students learn much faster through a combination of face-to-face classroom interactions and online or electronic practice. This has been made possible by development in technology and the creation of a Virtual Learning Environment, also called VLEs.

VLEs are used in conjunction with a traditional curriculum. The students still have classroom discussions, where they interact with a teacher and their fellow students. They follow a standard curriculum, and take courses with appropriate learning material.

However, students are also asked to do online activities when they leave the classroom. They can test their new skills in games, or listen to audio files that help them hear how a word is pronounced or the inflections in a sentence. There are also downloadable grammar lists or vocabulary lists, or other materials that would otherwise have been to expensive to distribute in the classroom.

Blended learning also allows adult learners—people who have jobs to go to, or household chores to complete—to study part of the course on their own time. The flexibility is unequalled, and they don’t even have to lug around books. They can log on the web through their laptops or office computers, and quickly complete an exercise between meetings.