Idioms, Slang

Idioms can be a challenge for non-native English speakers. They are dependent on 'insider' grasp of their nuances. Based on accepted meanings of oddly placed words and ironic or contradictory meanings, these word groups and phrases are hidden and sometimes dangerous subtleties for non-native speakers. Many idioms are acceptable within the norms of standard communication, and some are conversational cliches. Teachers and tutors need to help writers know the difference. You can go to: Idioms and Slang to get some helpful tips.

English Daily has many resources for learning English, including learning about slang and advertising.

Dictionary 

Tutors have a special resource that should not be ignored. Dictionary publishers have developed ESL-focused topics which can be referred to in many tutoring situations. Modeling the use of the dictionary is a genuine gift from tutors to their clients. ESL tutors will find the following list of subjects useful in a tutorial session as well as their personal study of the needs of ESL students. 

Handouts

Available to you are many links of interest  with over 300 lessons, handouts, and teaching tips.  

Tutoring Resources from Online Writing Lab (OWL) is a website hosted by the Writing Center in the Department of English at Virginia Tech.

The New Mexico Coalition for Literacy offers literacy resources for adult students,tutors, and program administrators.

Games, Chats, Quizzes

ESLtown.com offers your students with a place to find pen pals, play ESL games, chat with others, read stories, and do quizzes.

Karen's PartyLand has student pages with over 75 interactive quizzes, 15 discussion forums, interactive lessons on a variety of topics, a chat room, and lots of great links. The instructor link has lesson plans and reproducible materials to use in class. The site also offers discussion forums, ideas for communicative practice activities, a chat room, a job board, links, and more.

Dave's ESL Cafe has activities for tutors and students.

Comenius English Language Center offers a large list of sites for ideas on facilitating use of English by non-native speakers.

Journals, Magazines

• ESL Magazine
• ESL Blues
• ELT Journal
• Hands-On English
• The Internet TESL Journal
• Each community serves a variety of cultures when teaching non-native English speaking students. Communication with other tutors can provide you with ideas and help you with problem solving. You can read about one journal, Hands-on English that is written by teachers for teachers.

Even more:

• Language Learning and Technology
  
  
• ESL Gold: offers hundreds of pages of resources on listening, speaking, reading, writing, vocabulary, pronunciation, idioms, TOEFL prep, and more, all categorized by skill level.
  
  
• The Frizzy University Network  provides courses, tutorial help, handouts, and more links.
  
  
• Go to the ESL-EFL British Civilization Home Page and you will find over 2000 exercises to use.

• What special challenges and opportunities exist for teaching with technology for our foreign/ESL student population? (Word 34 KB)

• One author specifically addresses retention and success of Latino ESL students.

• Another site addresses pedagogical techniques, strategies, and challenges when teaching Asian culture ESL students.(pdf)

• Here are some vocabulary quizzes that address English-Somali vocabulary.

Especially for Tutors

Please go to Resources in iTeach and type ESL into the search field. You will find sites that will introduce and discuss important aspects of teaching, including teaching speaking, grammar, listening, reading and writing skills as well as how to assess student needs, develop a syllabus, and provide hints and tricks for a more enjoyable teaching environment and a large number of ready to go lesson plans.

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