
Douglas Magrath
Articles by Douglas Magrath
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Why cultural understanding is essential: Part 5
Culture is an important element for any ESL program, and instructors need to be aware of learners’…
Monday, November 16, 2020 -
Ensuring progress and knowledge retention among ESL students
As they prepare for and move on to college life, students undergo many transitions. The most important…
Monday, October 12, 2020 -
Tips for ESL teachers to prepare students for tests
Testing in ESL is the means of assessing the learners' progress in specific skill areas. Teachers need…
Tuesday, September 08, 2020 -
Tips for teaching deaf students
From time to time deaf students may be in one’s ESL classes. Remember that their L1 is likely a sign…
Monday, August 17, 2020 -
Using a historical document as a teaching tool
This article, featuring Elbert Hubbard's "A Message to Garcia," may be of interest for instructors teaching…
Monday, June 29, 2020 -
Key points of linguistics for ESL teachers
ESL instructors need to understand how languages work to be better able to serve the student population.…
Monday, June 15, 2020 -
Tips for teaching practical grammar
Grammar learning is different from other academic subjects since grammar builds on prior knowledge. One…
Monday, May 18, 2020 -
Teaching hints: Listening and speaking
Listening and speaking go together as parts of overall proficiency. Students need constant practice in…
Monday, April 20, 2020 -
4 vocabulary hints for English learners
Students often struggle with academic vocabulary, especially if their L1 is a non-European language.…
Monday, March 16, 2020 -
Teaching business English in the ESL classroom
Proper business English is more important than ever with increased globalization. Perhaps the most difficult…
Monday, February 24, 2020 -
Understanding the structure of Arabic for ESL teachers
An understanding of the basic structure of Arabic is useful to ESL teachers who have Arabic students…
Monday, February 03, 2020 -
Why cultural understanding is essential: Part 4
It is important for instructors and staff to understand the various cultures represented in their student…
Monday, January 06, 2020 -
Why cultural understanding is essential: Part 3
Understanding different cultures is essential for those working with international students. Studies…
Tuesday, November 12, 2019 -
Why cultural understanding is essential: Part 2
Cultural competence is an important key for success in today’s world. Language learning improves international…
Monday, September 30, 2019 -
Maintaining student progress: Part 2
The United States is a nation of immigrants from many different countries and groups. They face many…
Monday, August 19, 2019 -
Reading and L2 acquisition
Language skills can develop naturally. Language acquisition comes under the field of psycholinguistics:…
Friday, July 19, 2019 -
Useful hints for ESL teachers: Part 2
Students need extra help understanding facets of language that go beyond grammar and syntax. Teachers…
Thursday, May 23, 2019 -
How to encourage your ELLs
The success of students in acquiring a new language is related to the learning environment. As I wrote…
Monday, April 15, 2019 -
Useful hints for ESL teachers
Content and grammar go together as learners strive towards the goal of L2 proficiency and communication…
Tuesday, February 26, 2019 -
What to know about practical interactive grammar
L2 learning goes beyond acquisition of linguistic features. The process includes communication, cultural…
Monday, January 21, 2019 -
Culture and L2 learning
A positive view of the target culture makes learning the language easier. It helps if the learners identify…
Tuesday, November 27, 2018 -
Maintaining student progress
As I wrote in October 2017, "The concern among those serving international students is shifting from…
Monday, October 29, 2018 -
Why cultural understanding is essential
ESL professionals need a basic understanding of the effects of cultural contrast on ESL learners. The…
Tuesday, September 25, 2018 -
L1 and L2 acquisition: Hints for teachers
The process of first language acquisition (called L1 acquisition) has been studied extensively, and the…
Friday, August 31, 2018 -
Overcoming obstacles as an ESL teacher
Teachers, including those in ESL, may decide to leave the profession for a variety of reasons. In this…
Monday, July 23, 2018 -
Maintaining student progress in the ESL classroom
ESL programs should be more than just classes. Students need classes that are stimulating and relevant.…
Monday, June 25, 2018 -
Linguistic change: Implications for teaching
Why study linguistics? Teachers and learners need an understanding of applied linguistics to better understand…
Wednesday, June 06, 2018 -
The importance of gestures in ESL teaching
ESL teachers need to see the importance of gestures in the overall communication process, as gestures…
Wednesday, May 02, 2018 -
Strategies for student success and retention
As I've written previously, the concern among those serving international students is shifting from recruiting…
Tuesday, March 27, 2018 -
Understanding dialects helps ESL instructors
As I've written previously, knowledge of basic linguistic principles should include dialects —…
Wednesday, February 28, 2018 -
Teaching practical interactive grammar
Grammar instruction is vital, but the methodology is continuing to shift to a more student-centered…
Wednesday, January 31, 2018 -
The importance of dialects for ESL
Instructors as well as learners need to understand linguistics and dialects. Learners will be exposed…
Wednesday, December 13, 2017 -
Exercises to teach the nuances of business writing to ELLs
Besides grammar and speaking, business communication must include writing. As I've written previously,…
Wednesday, November 01, 2017 -
Retaining ESL students
The concern among those serving international students is shifting from recruiting to retention. Student…
Wednesday, October 04, 2017 -
Alternative careers related to TESOL
Whether based on economic and political concerns or simply wanting to try a new career path, ESL teachers…
Wednesday, August 23, 2017 -
Diversity leads to language challenges at community colleges
Community colleges serve a vital function in higher education. As discussed in a previous article,…
Wednesday, July 26, 2017 -
Teaching English to deaf students
As I discussed in a previous article, the prelingually deaf often need ESL instruction since American…
Wednesday, June 28, 2017 -
The importance of semantics in ESL instruction
In a recent article, I discussed the importance of phonetics for ESL instructors. But instructors can…
Wednesday, May 10, 2017 -
When L1 interferes with English learning
In this article, we will use see how students' home languages may cause interference when they start…
Wednesday, April 19, 2017 -
The challenges of teaching ESL in community college
Many second-language students end up in community colleges either in IEP programs or college preparatory…
Wednesday, March 29, 2017 -
The theory of language: ESL and phonetics
Language is what makes us human, and it's something no other creature has. As I wrote in my previous…
Wednesday, March 01, 2017 -
The theory of language for ESL teachers
ESL instructors need to understand how languages work to be better able to serve the student population.…
Wednesday, January 25, 2017 -
The challenge of ESL literacy
Prebeginning or preliterate learners present a unique challenge to the ESL teacher accustomed to students…
Tuesday, December 13, 2016 -
Understanding your students’ world view
When it comes to teaching a English as a second language, it is important to take culture into consideration.…
Thursday, November 10, 2016 -
Why L2 teaching should mirror L1 acquisition
Language acquisition comes under the field of psycholinguistics: Children learn L1 without any active…
Wednesday, October 12, 2016 -
Understanding international students: Classroom applications
There are many benefits for instructors who have an understanding of their learners' cultures as well…
Wednesday, September 14, 2016 -
The challenges of adult education ESOL
Adult education English language courses (ESOL) offer a unique set of challenges that are different from…
Wednesday, August 31, 2016 -
Interference patterns: Applying linguistic theory to lesson production
The English learner often attempts to communicate by drawing upon translations from the native language.…
Wednesday, August 10, 2016 -
Contrastive grammar for ESL teachers: Part 2
ESL and FL instructors need to be aware of some of the fundamental differences between the home language…
Wednesday, July 13, 2016 -
Contrastive grammar for ESL teachers: Part 1
ESL and FL instructors need to be aware of some of the fundamental differences between the home language…
Thursday, July 07, 2016 -
The application of linguistics to ESL: Part 2
In the first part of this article, we looked at how the grammatical description of a language is conveniently…
Wednesday, June 15, 2016 -
The application of linguistics to ESL: Part 1
The grammatical description of a language is conveniently divided into two complementary sections: morphology…
Wednesday, June 08, 2016 -
The differences among ESL program models — Part II
What drives the program choices for language students? In theory, it should be the needs and abilities…
Wednesday, May 18, 2016 -
The differences among ESL program models — Part I
What drives the program choices for language students? In theory, it should be the needs and abilities…
Wednesday, April 27, 2016 -
Hiding grammar lessons in content material
A variety of activities will enhance language acquisition. Suggestions include articles, student presentations,…
Wednesday, March 23, 2016 -
Using content materials for ESL instruction
Students need to transfer their ESL skills to their academic subjects or careers. Unfortunately, this…
Wednesday, February 24, 2016 -
The need for ESL instruction for deaf students
Many deaf people face the same issues as ESL students when they go through the educational process along…
Wednesday, February 03, 2016 -
Integrative tests: More considerations for teachers
In a recent article, I described why integrative testing is a better way of testing language competence…
Wednesday, January 27, 2016 -
Integrative tests: Implementing in the ESL classroom
In a recent article, I described why integrative testing is a better way of testing language competence…
Wednesday, January 06, 2016 -
Teaching the ESL skills needed in the business world
Rather than just learning about grammar or words, ESL students must actually use the language to learn…
Wednesday, December 02, 2015 -
Modifying traditional ESL materials for classroom use
This article provides some helpful hints and suggestions to ESL instructors who wish to use modern techniques…
Wednesday, November 11, 2015 -
ELL writing skills: Getting started
Writing for the L2 learner is a developmental process analogous to reading. It is also a direct communication…
Wednesday, October 07, 2015 -
Integrative tests: A better way to assess English learners
Testing in ESL is the means of assessing the learners' progress in specific skill areas. Teachers need…
Wednesday, September 30, 2015 -
ELL writing skills: Cultural patterns stand out
In my previous article about ELL writing skills, I showed how patterns of writing differ across cultures.…
Wednesday, September 09, 2015 -
ELL writing skills: The influence of L1 culture
Culture and writing go together — and writing patterns reflect the L1 culture. The ACTFL Standards…
Wednesday, August 26, 2015 -
Introducing grammar exercises for English language learners
By the process of using language to solve problems, the learners obtain comprehensible input from…
Wednesday, July 29, 2015 -
ELL writing skills: Why they matter
Even the most basic English language learners need to be exposed to the written code of the target language.…
Wednesday, July 15, 2015 -
ELL writing skills: The exercises
Writing is essential for communication. Note the following from the ACTFL Standards: "Communication is…
Wednesday, June 17, 2015 -
ELL writing skills: The challenges
In light of the challenges presented by the latest methodological shifts, the question of how to teach…
Wednesday, May 27, 2015 -
Bridging the cultural gap for ELLs
Language and culture are intertwined. Culture is a part of life, and students need to understand the…
Wednesday, May 20, 2015 -
Simple exercises to improve ELL reading skills: Science
English for science courses will help students who have passed the admissions test and are not quite…
Wednesday, May 06, 2015 -
Simple exercises to improve ELL reading skills — Part 3
According to the National Standards, "Communication is at the heart of second language study, whether…
Wednesday, April 15, 2015 -
Simple exercises to improve ELL reading skills — Part 2
In the first part of this article, we discussed how reading is an essential means of communication and…
Wednesday, March 25, 2015 -
Simple exercises to improve ELL reading skills
Reading is an essential means of communication. Reading involves the recognition of large units — words…
Wednesday, February 25, 2015 -
How cultural differences can affect learning
Culture is a part of language. Even vocabulary can be culturally loaded. For example, the dictionary…
Wednesday, February 18, 2015 -
The importance of culture in ESL teaching
From the first word, the study of a second language is the study of another culture. Language and culture…
Wednesday, February 04, 2015 -
Paralinguistic concerns for ESL instructors
Language is the first concern in teaching communicative competence. Grammar, pronunciation, listening…
Wednesday, January 14, 2015 -
Steps to proficiency-oriented classrooms
When making steps toward proficiency-oriented classrooms, authentic material is used as much as possible,…
Wednesday, December 10, 2014 -
Easy conversational activities for teaching pronunciation
The perfection of pronunciation is an ongoing process in any language-learning situation. Both problems…
Thursday, September 25, 2014 -
Easy vocabulary for English learners
Vocabulary is part of all aspects of language learning. As students create, read and write, they are…
Wednesday, August 20, 2014 -
Easy listening exercise for ESL students
Students need to bridge the gap between short ESL exercises and real lectures. The trend is now toward…
Wednesday, July 16, 2014 -
Using topical grammar to enhance language learning
The various subskills of grammar, listening, reading, writing and cultural awareness all work together…
Wednesday, May 21, 2014 -
Issues in assessing ESL students
Testing styles in the students' home countries are different than those in the U.S. Often the curriculum…
Wednesday, April 09, 2014 -
Transferring ESL skills to the business world
Students need to transfer their ESL skills to their academic subjects or careers. A study done at…
Wednesday, March 19, 2014
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