Tips for Working with English Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) Students

Make it worth it!

When tutoring an ESOL student it is important to make the most of your time together. The following can help:

• Use simple English. Try to use simple sentence structure and commonly used words.

• Be patient with a student who is hesitant to speak. It is normal for a student to be silent at first, then to speak in single words, then in short phrases.

• Repeat cheerfully. If your student doesn't understand what you have said repeat it in different words.

• Slow down your speech to give your student time to process what you have said. Speak slower, not louder.

• Break your speech into chunks, without distorting the rhythm, to allow processing time.