Hello again language teachers, and welcome once again to the EE blog! Today's topic: Teaching english to beginner EFL learners... It's an exciting and rewarding experience, but it also comes with its own unique set of challenges. New learners often struggle with unfamiliar sounds, structures, and vocabulary, which can make language acquisition feel overwhelming.
To create a strong foundation, teachers need to introduce topics that are both accessible and immediately useful in everyday communication. By focusing on high-frequency words and common expressions, learners gain confidence quickly, which encourages them to continue their language-learning journey (Nation, 2001).
How to Best Teach English to Beginner EFL Learners:
The best approach is to select engaging, practical topics that allow students to start forming sentences and interacting in English as soon as possible. When taught in a structured way, these topics not only help learners build essential vocabulary but also provide them with the tools to navigate real-world conversations (Harmer, 2007).
The order in which we introduce topics is just as important as the topics themselves. According to something called "cognitive load theory", learners can only process a limited amount of new information at one time, so overloading them with too much complexity too soon can hinder retention (Sweller, 1988).
Teach High-Frequencey, Familiar EFL Topics:
This is why it's crucial to introduce simple, high-frequency topics first before gradually moving on to more complex structures (Brown, 2001; Lightbown & Spada, 2013). Language acquisition research also suggests that scaffolding lessons—from easy, familiar concepts to more challenging language—allows students to build on prior knowledge, which improves both comprehension and long-term retention (Ellis, 2005; Thornbury, 2006).
By following this structured progression, teachers can maximize student success, ensuring that learners not only understand new vocabulary and grammar but also feel motivated and capable as they progress. Keeping all that in mind, here's a list of the 10 most common topics to teach new EFL and ESL learners, ranked in the order in which research says they should be taught to best facilitate success. Check it out.
The Ten Most Common EFL Topics (In The Order They Should Be Taught):
1. Personal Information
Introduce the basics: names, age, and nationality.
Starting with personal information fosters immediate engagement as students use language relevant to their own lives (Nation, 2001). Encourage learners to practice simple sentences like "My name is..." or "I am from..." in activities that promote interaction (Ellis, 2005). Such foundational conversations boost confidence and help learners apply their knowledge practically.
2. Family Members
Expand vocabulary to include immediate family.
Teaching family-related vocabulary like mother, father, brother, and sister helps personalize language learning, making it more meaningful (Lightbown & Spada, 2013). Using family trees and role-playing scenarios enhances vocabulary retention and supports the application in real-life contexts (Scrivener, 2011).
3. Numbers and Counting
Lay the foundation with numbers 1-100.
Numbers form a crucial part of daily interactions (Harmer, 2007). Incorporate counting exercises, simple math problems, and games to practice numbers, which aids memory retention and application (Ur, 2012).
4. Days of the Week and Months
Introduce time-related vocabulary.
Understanding days and months is crucial for scheduling and planning (Thornbury, 2006). Calendars serve as effective visual aids, and discussing personal routines helps contextualize this vocabulary (Murphy, 2012).
5. Common Verbs and Actions
Focus on high-frequency verbs like eat, drink, go, and play.
Verbs are the building blocks of language. Teaching high-frequency verbs enables students to talk about their daily activities (Larsen-Freeman, 2003). Using action-based games and charades makes learning dynamic and memorable, facilitating language use in a fun, engaging manner (Richards & Rodgers, 2001).
6. Food and Drinks
Explore vocabulary related to meals and beverages.
Discussing food introduces culturally relevant vocabulary and engages students by talking about personal preferences and experiences (Gass & Selinker, 2008). Activities like menu creation or role-playing in restaurant scenarios provide practical language practice (Nunan, 1999).
7. Classroom Objects
Introduce items found in the learning environment.
Labeling classroom objects helps students navigate their immediate learning environment, promoting language use within familiar contexts (Harmer, 2007). This method effectively builds vocabulary and aids in language retention (Scrivener, 2011).
8. Colors and Shapes
Teach basic colors and geometric shapes.
Learning descriptors like colors and shapes helps beginners describe the world around them (Cambridge, 2010). Incorporating art projects and coloring activities makes learning these concepts enjoyable and memorable (Wright, 1987).
9. Weather and Seasons
Discuss common weather terms and seasonal changes.
Weather is a universal topic of conversation that helps students practice descriptive language (Murphy, 2012). Using real-life weather discussions and forecasts can integrate learning with daily routines, enhancing relevance and retention (Richards, 2006).
10. Hobbies and Interests
Encourage students to talk about their favorite activities.
Discussing hobbies fosters personal expression and builds vocabulary related to leisure activities (Hadfield & Hadfield, 1999). Implementing show-and-tell sessions, discussions, and presentations promotes fluency and communicative confidence (Ur, 2012).
Summing Things Up:
By strategically sequencing these EFL and ESL topics, you can help manage cognitive load (Sweller, 1988) and ensure that learners build foundational knowledge before moving on to more complex structures (Brown, 2001). This method promotes long-term retention and confidence in language use.
Ad if you're looking for a collection worksheets to help you out, we've got you covered. Check out this collection of Worksheets for Beginner EFL and ESL on our store. Happy teaching!
References:
- Brown, H. D. (2001). Teaching by Principles: An Interactive Approach to Language Pedagogy. Longman.
- Cambridge, J. (2010). English Vocabulary in Use. Cambridge University Press.
- Ellis, R. (2005). Instructed Second Language Acquisition: A Literature Review. Ministry of Education.
- Gass, S. M., & Selinker, L. (2008). Second Language Acquisition: An Introductory Course. Routledge.
- Hadfield, J., & Hadfield, C. (1999). Simple Speaking Activities. Oxford University Press.
- Harmer, J. (2007). The Practice of English Language Teaching. Longman.
- Larsen-Freeman, D. (2003). Techniques and Principles in Language Teaching. Oxford University Press.
- Lightbown, P. M., & Spada, N. (2013). How Languages are Learned. Oxford University Press.
- Murphy, R. (2012). English Grammar in Use. Cambridge University Press.
- Nation, I. S. P. (2001). Learning Vocabulary in Another Language. Cambridge University Press.
- Nunan, D. (1999). Second Language Teaching & Learning. Heinle & Heinle.
- Richards, J. C., & Rodgers, T. S. (2001). Approaches and Methods in Language Teaching. Cambridge University Press.
- Richards, J. C. (2006). Communicative Language Teaching Today. Cambridge University Press.
- Scrivener, J. (2011). Learning Teaching. Macmillan Education.
- Sweller, J. (1988). Cognitive load during problem solving: Effects on learning. Cognitive Science, 12(2), 257-285.
- Thornbury, S. (2006). An A-Z of ELT. Macmillan Education.
- Ur, P. (2012). A Course in English Language Teaching. Cambridge University Press.
- Wright, A. (1987). Pictures for Language Learning. Cambridge University Press.