Teaching English as a second/foreign language

Teaching English as a second/foreign language

TESOL in theory and practice

Description:

These are other topics to choose from:
• Linguistics and TESOL; and
• Teaching methodology.
• Teaching four language skills
• Teaching listening
• Teaching reading
• Teaching speaking
• Teaching writing
• Phonics
• Error analysis
• Testing

Essay tips
1 Is the aim of your essay clear and does it show that you have
understood the task?
2. Does the body of the essay support the aim?
3. Do the references support your arguments?
4. Have you included a reference list?
5. Does every paragraph relate to your argument?
6. Do the paragraphs follow a logical order?
7. Have you written a conclusion or does the essay just stop suddenly
or fade away?
8. Have you summed up the most important points made in the body of the essay?
9. Have you checked spelling and grammar?
‘yes’ in essay writing!

Teaching English as a second/foreign language
• Try to make all the paragraphs hang well together in an essay (not
just different patches!)
• Use an introduction to introduce the topic (and perhaps to outline
what issues your essay deals with),
but avoid ‘arguing’ about a concept or issue in your introduction.
• Use signpost statements in your paragraphs to give readers a sense
of direction where you are and
where you are heading in your discussion. e.g.

Teaching English as a second/foreign language
“In has been pointed out in the previous discussion that language has
an impact on socialization. It is essential to
examine different strategies that teachers use to improve children’s
sociolinguistic awareness.”
• Alternatively use a rhetorical question to introduce an issue in
your discussion. e.g. “What strategies do
teachers use to improve children’s sociolinguistic awareness?”
“no” in essay writing!
• Don’t use dictionary definitions. E.g. “The Penguin dictionary
defines ‘language’ as..”. It is better to use
definitions of writers as their definitions reflect their theoretical
perspectives. A behaviourist defines
language quite differently from a linguist. An economist defines
‘education’ differently from that of a
philosopher.
* Don’t use informal English or colloquialisms. e.g.

Teaching English as a second/foreign language
‐ Educators talk a lot about cultural issues. (Educators discuss a
great deal about cultural issues);
‐ I think it is not right to condemn teachers openly. (I think it is
not constructive to condemn teachers openly)
• Don’t use contractions such as isn’t, it’s, can’t, they’re, I’m.
• Don’t have so many short paragraphs as a short paragraph does not
accommodate a comprehensive
discussion of an aspect or issue.
• Don’t say things which you cannot support with evidence. e.g.
‐ “Teachers nowadays do not teach properly. “
• Don’t use quotations which are ‘ordinary’ or just commonsense. e.g.
‐ “We use language every day. Language helps us to communicate with
other people. Language is very important
in our world “(Everyone knows this!)

Teaching English as a second/foreign language
• Don’t refer to the same author or publication repeatedly. It gives
the impression that this is the only
book that you read for your essay. Thus, the essay is very derivative.
• Don’t just cite authors’ statements or views without commenting on
them (in a way, you justify why
you use them in the essay, not just to fill up the pages with other
people’s views). e.g.
According to X, language is…..
According to Y, language is
According to Z, language is
• Don’t just quote only authors that you agree with. Sometimes, it is
stimulating for readers if you quote
someone with a controversial/provocative statement. e.g.
Fonda (1998, p.12) states that Asia does not have philosophy. Taoism
is not a philosophy. It is only a religious
tradition.

By admin in Essays on August 23, 2015