Today, learning English is not just a hobby anymore. It has become a necessity for academic, personal, and professional growth. Every non-native speaker wants to be the best at this language because why not? Who likes to stay in isolation from what’s happening in this world? Not a lot of people; humans are social creatures. Remember?
Out of a hundred and ninety-five countries on the face of the world map, only a handful have native English speakers. Do you know what that means to an ESL teacher? It means that there is a whole world of students who want to learn English as a second language. One section of these students are Spanish people.
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If teaching English in Spain is on your to-do list for this year, let us prepare you for the experience in advance.
Understand their Language First!
Learning a new language comes with a lot of what-ifs. What if I make a silly pronunciation? What if I sound like a fool? And the list goes on.
To understand what your students might go through, we suggest learning a bit of their language first. If not a lot, learn the basics of grammar and pronunciation. Believe it or not — It helps develop empathy and rapport within the classroom.
You can even crack a joke about it and show your vulnerability. The students will find it relatable, and it will lighten the mood of the class. Besides, learning some espanol will help you with getting around, making new friends, daily routine, etc.
Begin with What they Already Know.
The best way to plan your lessons is by having a baseline established first. Before teaching English to Spanish speakers, you might want to know how much they already know. Then, you can use that as a baseline to build further skills.
This activity will help you realize that the students know more than they realize. Almost 30-40% of English and Spanish words sound similar. So, you might want to show them the silver lining.
Point Out Similarities and Differences
Overlap in vocabulary is a thin ice, so your students must tread it carefully. Many words in Spanish do sound like English but are false cognates. As their tutor, you must warn them of such words.
Begin with teaching some of these words in class and ask your students to bring a list of such words on their own. Have each student read their list out loud in class to encourage an atmosphere of collaboration and kindness.
Every Spanish Alphabet Has a Sound
While speaking Espanol, you’ll notice that every alphabet, even the vowels, has some kind of sound. But, as an ESL teacher, you already know that English is different in this case. So, don’t get frustrated if the initial classes feel like the Wild Wild West.
Teach your students some pronunciation rules and common patterns. Make some flashcards with creative examples of such rules that you can hang in the classroom.
Role Reversal Exercises
Ask your students to become your teacher one by one. You can ask them to translate a word or a sentence into English. Another way is to say something incorrectly and ask one of your students to point out what’s wrong. Then, have another or the same student change it to the correct form.
Such exercises make the classroom less boring for both teachers and students. Don’t be surprised if your class attendance is above 90%.
Make them Act in English
Another way to help the students remember your lessons better is by utilizing their other skills or interests. Your students will love a splash of entertainment every now and then. So, you can watch some entertaining videos with English subtitles inside the classroom. You can even suggest some easy-to-understand English videos or movies to your students and have them share their thoughts on it in English.
Also, if you see a knack for performing arts in your students, you can use that skill. Ask them to act out their favorite dialogues in the classroom.
Teach them Phrasal Verbs
You might be teaching English in Spain, but your students will take this skill to other corners of the world. So, it is necessary for them to be pro at making conversations in the language. And you can never be a pro in English until you have a full command over colloquial stuff, such as phrasal verbs.
Spanish speakers do not use phrasal verbs as much as English speakers. So, you might not want to jump to this lesson in the beginning.
It’s Okay to Break the Rules Once in a While!
The worst thing we can do to ourselves is be scared of making mistakes. Tell your students to be kind to themselves if they break some rules once in a while. Appreciate their efforts and keep reminding them of all the hard work they are putting in.
We wish you a very productive adventure of Teaching in Spain. If you want to learn more about it or teach ESL, contact us today!
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