ESL Basics

This week in Reading class, we have been reading Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson. It's a rivoting story about a mix of pirates and citizens in search of treasure. Treasure Island has been historically dubbed as a story for boys, but it has captivated the attention of men, women, and children alike. In our class, we have students ranging from age 19 to age 40 from 7 different countries and varying levels of comprehension. However, for 50 minutes each day, every student has one thing in common: a sharp curiosity for what will happen next for Jim Hawkins, Dr. Livesey, and the infamous Long John Silver. Discussion about the story is always lively. Each student has an opinion to interject, a storyline to explain, and a smile on their faces. We have debated the sincerity of Long John Silver, talked about what we would do in Jim's situation, and sung outloud together, "Yo ho ho, and a bottle of rum." 

After several semesters of teaching reading classes, I have come to realize that nothing inspires classroom interaction like a good story. Whether it's an short story about hiking through Spain, a news article about brave 9/11 firefighters, or a good pirate adventure, stories are an undeniable common denominator. They draw out even the meekest of students. In addition to lowering students' affective filters, reading compelling stories provides context for vocabulary and reinforces grammatical structure. 

Find a novel your students will enjoy. I promise, when you hear your students gasp from the latest plot twist, you will be glad you did.