Highway To E.S.L.: A User-Friendly Guide to Teaching English As A Second Language

Book Description
In today’s world, teaching English as a Second Language (E.S.L.) is big business. An expanding global communications network has made English the international language of choice. In Highway to E.S.L., authors Rik Ruiter and Pinky Dang provide an easy-to-understand guide, not only for individuals seeking a new and rewarding career teaching English, but also for experienced E.S.L. instructors who wish to improve their classroom skills.
Written in a user-friendly format that includes detailed course planning and an appendix containing a variety of useful evaluation forms, Highway To E.S.L. supplies readers with valuable information on how to teach the different disciplines of English—a vital component to successful education in both domestic and international markets. Other key topics include:

· Necessary teaching methodologies and approaches
· Innovative personal teaching tips
· Proficient classroom management
· Troubleshooting common classroom problems
· Efficient planning that utilizes timetables
· Stimulating activity suggestions
· Effective curriculum and lesson planning for grammar, reading, writing, listening, and speaking
· Incorporating both conventional and non-conventional teaching resources in the classroom

– Book Reviews —

Evidently written to help novice ESL teachers understand the diverse and challenging skill sets required to teach English overseas, this ambitious book provides a plethora of practical tips for success in the classroom.

The 21 chapters range from overseas preparations, classroom management, and language needs and placement tests to verb tenses, teaching vocabulary, and teaching vowels. An informal, friendly tone pervades – and more than a few odd sentences and editing errors have survived in this 359-page tome. Each chapter includes concise subheadings, clear examples, and many needlessly long sentences. Numerous teaching suggestions, strong statements, and bullet point lists help transmit an impressive amount of information.

From my perspective as an experienced ESL instructor who has taught academic ESL for over a decade, this book remains a hidden gem. Two very strong chapters alone – Teaching Writing (chapter 10) and Teaching Speaking (chapter 17) – make this a smart choice. Both cover the predictable ground, include worksheets, and offer innovative assignments to motivate students.

I haven’t read the entire book, but I’m impressed with the depth and range of concepts in the chapters I have read. Further, the resource lists allow one to conduct further research. The book attempts to convey academic research in an accessible, practical manner. Overall, it succeeds in providing a single teaching resource for English teachers wanting to help their students master a difficult language.

Two other final comments. I recognize how the book might have benefited from an university press editor, but the book would also have been far thinner, more academic, less engaging – and far less practical for ESL teachers working overseas. "Highway to ESL" succeeds far better in explaining the field and guiding teachers through a complicated maze of information than most professional titles.

I’ve found this book easy to navigate and plan to use it right away in my ESL classes. I appreciate this useful book.

It is by far the closest thing I could find to what I was looking for. In 350 pages it covers the basics and more. I now have a lot of tools and exercises I can use when I have to prepare a class on a short notice. There is a lot of information on the logistic side too: classroom management, lesson planing etc. Not the book for those looking for highly academic prose but if you are looking for a complete tool box all-in-one, this book is worth a try. Recommended for those going to teach overseas.

The authors might be good teachers. They certainly seem friendly, encouraging, and good-humored. But this book is poorly written and poorly edited. There are unwitting occurrences of bad grammar.