Teaching Immigrants English
I teach immigrants English. I’m often asked how many languages I speak. When I tell them one English, they are confused. They mistake teaching English with bilingual classes.
Bilingual teaching is fine if your students all speak the same language, for example, Spanish. The teacher speaks both Spanish and English.
My students are from different countries. In one class, I have students from Turkey, Guinea, and Cuba. I can’t speak Turkish, French, or Spanish. And it would not be effective to switch between these languages while teaching English.
How does this work?
When I teach beginners (A1-A2), I know my students will not understand much of what I say. I write on the board so students can read and translate as needed. I use pictures before I use Google Translate.
Teaching intermediate students (B1-B2) is easier. Their comprehension level is higher, and as long as I speak at an appropriate speed, my students understand what I am saying. Certainly, I need to define words, which is part of vocabulary acquisition. I also write grammar explanations and examples on the board.
My advanced students (C1-C2) discuss current events and controversial topics. These include immigration, globalization, freedom of speech, and other topics. The goal is to teach my students to analyze and discuss a topic fluently in English.
What I Don’t Do
I never share my political opinions in class. My goal is to teach them English. Some of my students are liberal, and some are conservative. In some schools, sharing political views, whether liberal or conservative, is considered indoctrination or radicalization.
A student may ask another student a question about politics, specifically about their country. When this happens, I make a quick determination. Will this benefit the class? Are the students friendly enough to discuss the issue without getting into an argument? If I think it will cause more harm than good, I will take over the conversation and move it in a different direction.
What Do I Teach?
Each class includes these topics:
- Grammar
- Pronunciation
- Speaking
- Reading Comprehension
- Listening Comprehension, and
- Writing
Final Thoughts
I love teaching English. My students share unique experiences. They are brave to leave their homes and support systems and build a new life in the United States.
