English as a Second Language
"Our church reaches out into the local Hispanic community. We found out that we are
learning a great many things from them and it is a two-way exchange. They are teaching us
the importance of relationships and hospitality, of which we busy Americans can use a good
dose! It's happening just by being together night after night in our ESL classes."
English-as-a-Second-Language (ESL) classes are an excellent way for a church to provide a needed service and develop long-term relationships with new arrivals in their community.
ESL doesn't have to be a formal class. International students are eager to practice their English in conversation with Americans, so several churches in the Seattle area offer informal evenings of food, fun and conversation, in a program called Talk Time. For more information, visit speechtree.com for dozens of conversation starters and Talk Time topics.
The Institute for Cross-Cultural Training offers free articles online to help volunteers become better ESL teachers.
They also publish a CD, Getting Started in Teaching ESL/EFL: Resources for Christian Educators, and they are giving the first copy free when mailed to addresses in the U.S. The CD may be duplicated. Contact: icct@wheaton.edu.
Literacy and Evangelism International (LEI) has developed a Bible-based ESL curriculum geared for use by lay volunteers.
You can purchase their materials at the LEI website, or from Multi-Language Media. Be sure to visit their site to read inspirational ESL tips and stories.
"Be flexible and teachable. You will learn much and receive untold blessings
from God. By being more than a teacher and becoming a real friend, you
will build the bridge of trust so that Christ can cross into their hearts."
You may also be interested in our resources for teaching children English and other languages, links to Children's Bibles in several languages, and links to flannel board sets.
Be sure to visit Joanne's Page for ESL Teachers, a very rich site. Joanne shares tips for teachers, resources and more based on her ESL ministry at Walnut Creek Presbyterian Church.
Books for Teachers
Here are some of the best-selling books on teaching ESL. Follow the link to Amazon.com for descriptions and reviews. (If you choose to buy online, 5% of the price will help cover expenses of our ministry.) The stars are readers' ratings from Amazon.com. No stars means the book had not been reviewed at the time of this writing.
 |
The Gift of the Stranger:
Faith, Hospitality, and Foreign Language Learning
by David I. Smith and Barbara M. Carvill
Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co, 2000
 |
No picture
available |
Handbook for Teaching Bible-Based ESL by J. Wesley Eby
Beacon Hill Press of Kansas City, 1993 |
 |
Easy & Engaging ESL Activities and Mini-Books for Every Classroom
by Kama Einhorn
Instructor Books, 2001
 |
 |
Learning to Listen, Learning to Teach:
The Power of Dialogue in Educating Adults
by Jane Vella
Publisher: Jossey-Bass, 1997
 |
 |
American Idioms and Some Phrases Just for Fun : An Esl Meaning and Usage Workbook Contains Both Practice Exercises and Tests
by Edward Swick
|
 |
Teaching English As a Foreign or Second Language:
A Self-Development and Methodology Guideby Jerry G. Gebhard
Univ of Michigan Press, 1996
|
 |
Esl Teacher's Activities Kit
by Elizabeth Claire
Prentice Hall Trade, 1998
|
 |
101 Bright Ideas: Esl Activities for All Ages
by Claire Maria Ford
Addison-Wesley Pub Co, 1996 |
 |
The Esl Teacher's Book of Lists
by Jacqueline E., Ed.D.
Center for Applied Research in Education, 1993
|
 |
Ready-To-Use Flannel Board Stories, Figures and Activities for Esl Children
by Elizabeth Krepelin and Bonnie Mae Smith
Center for Applied Research in Education, 1995 |
 |
English Teaching As Christian Mission:
An Applied Theology
by Donald B. Snow
Herald Press, 2001 |
No picture
available |
Making It Happen:
Interaction in the Second Language Classroom: From Theory to Practice
by Patricia A. Richard-Amato
Addison-Wesley Pub Co, 1996
|
No picture
available |
The Idiom Advantage: Fluency in Speaking and Listening
by Dana Watkins
Addison-Wesley Pub Co, 1997
|
* Back to Creative Ministry Ideas
* Back to Web or Site Search
Back to Ethnic Harvest site map
Copyright © 1999-2008 Ethnic Harvest. All rights reserved.
