Introduction

What happens when a new student doesn't speak English,and no one available speaks his/her language? As the English as a Second Language (E.S.L.) teacher in the Weld County School District in Colorado during the 1978-79 school year, I became very aware of the frustrations faced by both teachers and non-English speaking students enrolled in a regular school program. Since different schools and teachers are affected each year, there has been little opportunity for sharing of ideas and strategies. Most teachers, though very capable of teaching non-English speaking students, simply do not have the time to devote on a one-to-one basis. Tutoring by the E.S.L. teacher and aides is helpful but limited.

Despite restrictions, there are quite a few options that a teacher and principal may consider in setting up some kind of program in which the non-English speaking student can learn and experience success. The first section, Getting Started, deals with this specifically. Some of the suggestions in thie chapter were offered by teachers, others are from research, and still others are as yet untested ideas. They may have varying degrees of practicality in your situation. Specific feedback regarding their usefulness would be much appreciated, especially since this is a first attempt.

The remainder of the handbook deals with how to teach English as a second language, from how to elicit the first words to methods, scope and sequence. It is intended primarily for tutors--aides, parent volunteers, university students, etc.--who have time to teach but little experience with E.S.L. It is also for the classroom teacher planning lessons to be carried out by tutors.

Much more is involved in English and language learning than is included here. The intent of this handbook is not to be comprehensive, but to provide background information and a framework to help teachers and tutors get started in successfully working with non-English speaking students. There is no single "correct" way to teach English as a Second Language. Whatever a teacher or tutor does that helps a child learn or learn how to learn is of great value!

Good luck!