3 Online Tools to Make ESL Teaching Fun and Interactive

23Sep 2024 by ESL Expat

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This is why ESL (English as a Second Language) courses are important in addressing these challenges. They make learning English accessible for foreign students. As an ESL instructor myself, I have found that using engaging tools can really boost the learning experience for my students. 

If you are an ESL teacher and have been looking for ways to make ESL more engaging for your students, you are at the right place. I am going to list down the tools that are a personal favorite for teaching ESL. 

Importance of Making Learning Fun and Interactive

Before we get into this, you need to ask yourself first: Will you be productive in a class where the instructor drones on and on about a topic? No, right? This is why I feel interactive teaching is best when it comes to learning a new language.  

Apparently, UNESCO feels the same. According to them, interactive teaching methodologies can do wonders for students’ information retention. Here are more reasons why you should make ESL teaching more interactive, just like I did:

  1. Interactive teaching allows students to understand the concepts better.
  2. It also pushes them to develop critical-thinking and problem-solving skills.
  3. This kind of teaching allows them to collaborate and communicate better with their peers.
  4. It compels students to take more interest in the classes and improves their topic retention.
  5. Because of interactive learning, they also gain confidence and motivation to perform well. 

 

Top Three Online Tools to Make ESL Interactive for Students

I was truly able to help my students when I acknowledged how scary learning a new language for them can be. It is like climbing a steep hill, but the benefits make it worth it. This is why I started using these tools which would make it seem a little less scary.

Before we begin, I have a disclaimer. Since all these tools are online, therefore it’s important to have a stable internet connection in your class. Only then can your students use these tools smoothly. If you do not have dependable internet, you should first find the right internet plans for your class. 

  • Duolingo

Research shows that gamifying learning can improve topic retention and learning. This is why I sometimes let my ESL students learn through games. 

Duolingo is a great language-learning game/application. It has short, bite-sized lessons that my students can complete and get scores. Since this is a monthly thing in my class, we have set up a Duolingo leadership session where  students play to get to the top of the board every month. The best part? They get to learn English with full motivation. 

 

 

Moreover, it helps them learn English by improving their grammar and vocabulary. However, it is only beneficial for my beginner and intermediate students. It does not do much for advanced-level ESL students. Lastly, it’s free so it doesn’t put a dent in anyone’s pockets. 

 

  • Quizlet

One of the most crucial parts of ESL learning is vocabulary-building but learning vocabulary can be overwhelming. 

Quizlet is an online tool that lets my students learn vocabulary through interactive flashcards. These can be incomplete sentences, words with their meanings, or matching images. It is a great way to learn English vocabulary in an interactive way.

 

 

The best part is that these sets are customizable, so I can set them according to our recent learnings. Lastly, the game-like feel of the app makes vocabulary less of a chore. I have noticed amazing results in my students’ tests, after using Quizlet. 

 

  • Youglish

Most ESL students struggle with correct pronunciation. Moreover, the varying English accents are also confusing for them. 

I love Youglish because it lets my students learn pronunciations in all the common English accents. It has short videos that feature native English Speakers pronouncing the words. It also has multiple regions which students can select to hear their accents. The best part? It also has words in ASL (American Sign Language) which means it is accessible for hard-of-hearing and deaf students as well.

 

 

It has thousands of videos of words and phrases with multiple pronunciations. The layout of the website is super simple, which means my non-tech-savvy students can use it without any hassle too. Its search engine is also great as it often finds videos that have a particular phrase or word in multiple sentences. 

 

Bonus Tips to Make ESL More Engaging

Apart from using these tools, there are other ways you can make ESL learning engaging and fun for your students. 

  • Keep a few attention grabbers handy to catch the attention of your class. 
  • Think of a way to appreciate students when they reach their goals.
  • Make them watch a movie with English subtitles and ask them questions about it later. 
  • Invite a native English speaker and have your students ask them questions. 

 

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