What are /r/ESL_Teachers' favorite Products & Services?

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There are online courses and real live class courses.

I would do the class course.

You can buy online TEFL certificates on Groupon. What does that tell you about the quality of it?

https://www.groupon.com/deals/n-tefl-fullcircle

Depends on the country, A CELTA will prepare you better but if you are already getting offers you might just go for it. See if your school will let you do a few days observation before you start. Watching how your school and the teachers there do things will better prepare you than most trainings.

Also unless you are exclusively teaching very young learners I'd recomend Speaking Activities that don't suck by English teacher X.

It's very irrevent for a teaching book but it it'll give you a ton of tricks and quick lessons to be expanded. Some people might look down on it for it's cheeky tone but god I wish I had something like that when I first started teaching.

Use American English file book. Best book for ESL student. If you dont want to pay for it. You can google it for free as well.

https://www.amazon.com/American-English-File-Starter-Students/dp/0194905942

I took the ESOL Praxis on January 8, 2022. I used this study guide from Amazon, Cirrus Praxis 5362 2019-2020 (https://www.amazon.com/Praxis-English-Speakers-Languages-2019-2020/dp/1635304466/ref=mp_s_a_1_4?crid=2EFXW6BDX8K2I&keywords=cirrus+praxis+esol&qid=1647930042&sprefix=cirrus+praxis+edol%2Caps%2C51&sr=8-4) along with the ets practice test and passed. It was pretty easy. I studied only those materials for 2 weeks. Now I am studying the cirrus book again to prepare for interviews at public high schools here in America.

I started teaching 2 years ago. I found these two books extremely helpful:

1) Correction management: https://www.amazon.it/dp/0906717914/ref=cm_sw_r_apan_glt_i_SYAXV5TXCT753SJCV1G0

2) Techniques and Principles in Language Teaching. https://www.amazon.it/dp/0194423603/ref=cm_sw_r_apan_glt_i_XMQSW7C0G98A9RF4NQVZ?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1

I highly recommend I Can Fly A, which is a colorful workbook that is well-sequenced and engaging without being overwhelming. It's also $20 on Amazon.

If there are more funds, I highly recommend All About Reading Level 1. It includes letter tiles for manipulation, open and go lessons, colorful activity pages, and readers that connect each story with the lesson just taught. All sounds are taught explicitly, and advantages for an ELL include explicit instruction in things like syllable division and reduced vowel sounds in unstressed syllables.

If you have been going through an ESL program you will be able to respond to any "sticking points" he might have, like needing extra practice distinguishing b/v.

My background: I have an M.Ed in TESL as well as a 7 year old daughter with learning differences. When COVID interrupted her kindergarten year she knew letter sounds but could not blend, was falling behind her class. I used I Can Fly and All About Reading to teach her, and she can now read simple chapter books.

I hope this helps and good luck to you!

Thanks!

I actually do use UUEG (5th ed.), which I believe is by Pearson. I didn't know there were online exercises. Is that something I have to buy access for? A search led me here: https://www.amazon.com/Understanding-English-Grammar-Interactive-Version/dp/0137157754

Also, get a good grammar book for your reference. I just took a grammar for ESl teachers class for my masters, and we used a book called “Grammar for Teachers”: Grammar for Teachers: A Guide to American English for Native and Non-Native Speakers (Springer Texts in Education) https://www.amazon.com/dp/3319339141/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_i_M7128VFZHSQB40WQEDRE?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1

You don't have to know everything, but you do need to know where to find the answers. You can use the books below to answer the students questions or you can use them explain the grammar to yourself before you teach it.

In class, if you don't know an answer to a tangential question, write it down, and look it up after class. If it is about the topic you are studying at the moment, look it up on the spot.

The first ESL teacher I observed, kept the first book on his desk. He was a great teacher and the students loved him. He didn't pretend to know everything and neither should you.

The Blue Book of Grammar is a great resource https://www.amazon.com/dp/1119653029/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_glt_fabc_PEA24N6ABAQRQEWM6HYC

Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages https://www.amazon.com/dp/0521805163/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_glt_fabc_8WDPT2RBEZ5ZPHM4YTXF

I really love the resources in the ELL Teacher’s Toolbox for learning strategies and resources. My district gave me this book my first year and I still use it daily.

Also, fun games could be vocab games. My students love headbanz!

One tool I really liked when working with adults were the side by side books.

They are great because they give practical uses for the different grammatical structures, and you can practice with them. Very user friendly! I also liked Azar for more writing activities.

Folks,

I just released a major update right now, with speech analysis, customizable filler words, better UI, and more features. Welcome to have a try. Give me feedback please!

The app is free at: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.ak.peercoach .

Have you tried this app already? Today is a great opportunity because it just had a big update, with much nicer UI, and many more to come.

Try it and let me know what features you want to add or change! The app is at: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.ak.peercoach