The modern age brings with it new conveniences, and this has created new opportunities for teachers of ESL in terms of the teaching resources that are available.
In contrast with years past, when teachers needed to go to a bookstore to select materials, there are now tons of websites offering free, printable ESL worksheets at the mere click of a mouse. These worksheets can be printed out and copied for use in multiple classes, thereby adding a new level of flexibility to the curriculum.
Perhaps most importantly, these ESL resources can be saved in a folder in the teacher's desk and re-used in future classes. This greatly helps streamline the process of preparing for classes. No longer is it necessary to make a trip to the bookstore every semester and stock up on materials for the next new class.
It could even be said that the growth of ESL-related websites has revolutionized the ESL teaching experience. Now, it is possible to search for a job, interview for the job, and prepare materials for the job, all from the convenience of a computer. This should, at least in theory, result in better ESL materials and better ESL teachers.
However, the problem with many of the ESL worksheets available online is that many of them are too situation-specific or country-specific. For example, students in different countries may have specific problems with learning English due to the specific differences between English and the students' native language. For example, the Chinese language does not have tenses, so worksheets for students who are native Chinese speakers may need to give extra attention to reinforcing tenses in order to help students learn to think in terms of past, present, and future when constructing language.
Certain aspects of English need to be emphasized differently in different teaching contexts. As a result, worksheets that work well in one culture may be less appropriate - or not appropriate at all - in a different setting. Therefore, despite the ease of availability of ESL worksheets, teachers still must spend a certain amount of time searching for worksheets that will be suitable for his or her classes.
However, despite this small problem, the sheer volume of material available online means that teachers will almost certainly be able to find ESL resources that can be used effectively for their classes. All it requires is an internet connection and a willingness to put in a little time searching for the perfect materials!
In contrast with years past, when teachers needed to go to a bookstore to select materials, there are now tons of websites offering free, printable ESL worksheets at the mere click of a mouse. These worksheets can be printed out and copied for use in multiple classes, thereby adding a new level of flexibility to the curriculum.
Perhaps most importantly, these ESL resources can be saved in a folder in the teacher's desk and re-used in future classes. This greatly helps streamline the process of preparing for classes. No longer is it necessary to make a trip to the bookstore every semester and stock up on materials for the next new class.
It could even be said that the growth of ESL-related websites has revolutionized the ESL teaching experience. Now, it is possible to search for a job, interview for the job, and prepare materials for the job, all from the convenience of a computer. This should, at least in theory, result in better ESL materials and better ESL teachers.
However, the problem with many of the ESL worksheets available online is that many of them are too situation-specific or country-specific. For example, students in different countries may have specific problems with learning English due to the specific differences between English and the students' native language. For example, the Chinese language does not have tenses, so worksheets for students who are native Chinese speakers may need to give extra attention to reinforcing tenses in order to help students learn to think in terms of past, present, and future when constructing language.
Certain aspects of English need to be emphasized differently in different teaching contexts. As a result, worksheets that work well in one culture may be less appropriate - or not appropriate at all - in a different setting. Therefore, despite the ease of availability of ESL worksheets, teachers still must spend a certain amount of time searching for worksheets that will be suitable for his or her classes.
However, despite this small problem, the sheer volume of material available online means that teachers will almost certainly be able to find ESL resources that can be used effectively for their classes. All it requires is an internet connection and a willingness to put in a little time searching for the perfect materials!
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