5 ESL teaching methods for you to know as an English teacher

Choosing the right method for teaching English can be quite challenging. 

Teachers often wonder how to find the approach that will truly inspire their students. 

This choice impacts student achievement, the classroom environment, and your confidence as an educator. 

Today, we will explore several English teaching methods. 

You’ll learn how they work and why they’re worth incorporating into your teaching practice.

You might think that as an experienced teacher, your lessons run smoothly and your students seem satisfied. But is that enough? 

In a world where English is becoming increasingly essential, it’s important not just to teach, but to teach effectively.

Modern teaching methodologies help tailor materials to the needs of each student, and as you know, every student is unique; what works with one group may not work with another. 

And what about motivation? A well-chosen teaching approach can be the key to ensuring that students come to lessons with interest and leave them with real knowledge.

But it’s not just the students who benefit. 

A teacher who constantly updates their ways of teaching becomes more confident and always finds ways to make lessons engaging. 

Believe me, if you’re learning new strategies for teaching ESL, it means you’re growing professionally.

The Communicative Language Teaching method

The Communicative Language Teaching (CLT) approach is one of the most popular methods of teaching English as a second language. 

During lessons, students engage in role plays, discussions, and tasks that simulate real-life situations. 

Thanks to this consistent speaking practice, students are able to express their thoughts more quickly and feel more confident when speaking. 

To read more about the method, check out our article on Communicative Language Teaching.

The Direct Method

The Direct Method is an approach that focuses on fully immersing students in the English language. 

In lessons, the teacher uses only English. No translation into the native language is allowed.

They understand words and phrases in context, rather than memorising them in isolation. 

The Direct Method actively develops listening and speaking skills, as students are constantly exposed to spoken English and practice it, getting used to the English-speaking environment in the classroom. 

If you're looking for a new method to apply in your lessons, read more useful information about the Direct Method.

The Silent Way

The Silent Way method is quite an unusual approach to teaching English, where the main role is assigned to the students rather than the teacher. 

As the name suggests, the teacher speaks very little or not at all. 

Silence in this method is the key tool for learning.

In this method, every word, every gesture has meaning, which keeps students constantly engaged and intrigued. 

Want to learn more about this unique approach? Read our article on the Silent Way method.

The Audio-Lingual Method 

The Audio-Lingual Method is an approach that was extremely popular in the mid-20th century. 

The primary focus is on repetition. Students listen to samples of correct English and repeatedly mimic them until they have mastered them. 

Initially, students learn short phrases, which are then combined into longer sentences. 

Through regular practice, students begin to speak without hesitation. 

If you're looking for a way to quickly train students in correct pronunciation and intonation, this method can be an excellent tool. 

Want to learn more about this approach and how it can be adapted to modern contexts? Read our article about the Audio-Lingual Method from Grade University.

The Grammar-Translation Method

The Grammar-Translation Method is a classic approach familiar to many from their school years.

Lessons using this method often begin with reading a text, followed by analysing each sentence, where the teacher explains grammatical structures, and students translate them into their native language. 

In such lessons, students gain deep knowledge of grammar, which is useful for academic writing or exam preparation. 

However, speaking skills may take a back seat, as the method does not involve much oral practice. 

The Grammar-Translation Method was extremely popular in the past and still has its advocates today. 

But does it suit all students? What are the advantages and disadvantages of this method? 

Find out this and more in our article on the Grammar-Translation Method, where we break everything down in detail.

We have reviewed the main methods of teaching English, each of which has its own advantages and is suited to different learning objectives. 

If you would like to learn more about each of these methods, you can find full descriptions on our platform Grade University. 

No matter which method you choose, remember that the key is flexibility and adapting to the needs of your students. 

Sometimes it is better to combine several approaches to make your lessons both effective and engaging.