Introduction
When searching for Qatar teaching jobs, many International educators may find that working in Qatar has its unique challenges. For example, as a UK teacher working in Qatar, I found that the majority of my students were English language learners (EAL). This was a significant difference compared to my experiences teaching in England. In the UK, I had to adapt my teaching for small groups of EAL students, usually from one specific location, such as Ukrainian students affected by the war.
However, in Qatar, the percentage of EAL students was much higher and they came from a much wider range of countries, including the Middle East, Malaysia, and the Philippines. Despite these challenges, teaching in Qatar can be a rewarding and enriching experience for those with a passion for education and cultural exchange.
In this post, I’ll share 10 strategies for helping students who speak English as an additional language. These tips are ideal if you are intending on taking a teaching job in Qatar.
1. Read aloud to your students.
Reading aloud to your students can help them understand how words are pronounced and also help them learn new vocabulary. Reading aloud is a great way to help students understand the content of what they are reading, it can also be used as a way for students to learn new grammar and sentence structure.
Reading aloud will prepare your students to catch up to those who are native speakers. Reading aloud helps students understand how words are pronounced, which can make it easier for them to speak in front of others at school or in other social settings. It’s important that you read aloud with your students often so they have plenty of practice speaking English.
2. Encourage your student to look for words they know.
When you’re listening to someone speak, it’s natural to try to understand the words that are being said. But when you’re a student with English as an additional language (EAL), understanding the words can be difficult. The way your students learn English is different from how native speakers learn it because they have trouble understanding the sounds of English and need extra help with pronunciation.
To help your students understand what is being said, encourage them to look for words they know instead of trying to figure out every word in a sentence.
Encourage your student not be afraid or embarrassed about asking questions when they don’t understand something; this will make learning easier for them in the long run. Your student may make mistakes while speaking but that’s normal! Everyone makes mistakes when they’re learning something new—and everyone learns at their own pace too—so there will always be times when something doesn’t quite come out right yet but eventually does after practice.
Speak slowly and clearly and encourage your students to do the same.
Speak slowly and clearly to avoid confusion. You can also encourage your students to do the same. Use short, simple sentences. Use gestures and facial expressions while you speak. Enunciate clearly so that your students can hear what you’ve said and understand it. Using a dictionary is also helpful for students who are learning English as an additional language
Use visual cues like gestures, facial expressions and pictures.
- Use gestures.
- Use facial expressions to help students understand you and your message.
- Show pictures, diagrams or drawings to make it easier for students to understand what you’re trying to explain.
Encourage your students to ask questions about words or phrases they don’t understand.
As a teacher, you must be prepared to answer questions. Your student will likely have questions about words or phrases they don’t understand. They may also have questions about how to say something in English. Be prepared to pause and think before responding to an inquiry from one of your students who speaks English as an additional language. It is better for the student to ask a question rather than guess at the meaning of what has been said.
Practice English with other students who are learning the language.
- Get students to practice English with other students who are learning the language. Although it can be helpful to find a partner who speaks the same language as you, it is also important to try and force yourself to practice and this is best done with another learner and especially one who speaks a different first language to the other student.
- Get students to practice with friends and family. They may have other people around them who speak English well enough that they would be able to serve as good practice partners.
Get students to practice English whenever possible in everyday situations.
Help students get more confident in speaking English by using it in everyday situations such as shopping.
When learning new words, get students to teach family members and friends.
When learning new words, students could teach them to family members and friends.
Students who are learning English as an additional language can improve their vocabulary by teaching these words to friends and family. There are many ways in which this can be accomplished. One way is through pictures, gestures and facial expressions. Another option would be for students to explain the meaning of the word using written or spoken English.
Remember that pronunciation varies from country to country even within the same language, so be patient with those who speak differently from you.
It is important to remember that pronunciation varies from country to country even within the same language, so be patient with those who speak differently from you.
Patience and understanding go a long way when working with students who speak English as an additional language.
Help others learn something about your culture so they can better understand you and vice versa!
You can help your students by sharing something about your culture. You can learn more about the cultures of your students by asking them to share with you their favourite foods, music, or other things from their home country. Doing this in English will help them have something they find very interesting to talk about.
Conclusion
Teaching in Qatar will open your eyes to new experiences. One new experience will most likely be teaching many students who speak English as an additional language. These points, with some practice, will help you on your way to become an outstanding teacher.
Visit qatarteach.com to find out more.