For students to learn most effectively in an English as a Second Language course, they need a teacher who they respect professionally. Carrying out the most basic of ESL teacher duties goes a long way to earning that respect while also ensuring that lessons run smoothly and that you develop professionally as a language teacher.

Setting and Marking Homework
It is important for students to consolidate, in their own time, anything they have learned in class. For this reason, some form of homework is a necessity even though marking may be time consuming. You can make marking writing homework less arduous by using a simple number system. For example, a “1” next to a underlined word means a word-order mistake, “2” means a tense mistake, “3” means a spelling mistake and so on. Most other forms of homework can be corrected quickly in class.

Preparing Lessons Thoroughly
Lesson plans are essential, according to the book, “Lessons in Your Rucksack: The Complete TEFL Survival Guide,” by John Hughes. In addition to keeping each lesson focused on the particular needs of your class, they ensure that you always now what you should be doing and when.

Setting and Marking Regular Tests
According to the book, “Assessment and ESL,” by Barbara Law and Mary Eckes, students need to be continually aware of what they have accomplished and what they need to work on. Tests are a way of achieving this. Try to avoid making tests competitive in nature, as low marks can be discouraging. Give results to each student individually, rather than as a class, in conjunction with advice and encouragement.

Engaging in Peer Observation
Peer observation is an essential part of growing as a teacher. It gives you the opportunity to observe colleagues dealing with the same problems you encounter on a daily basis, according to the book, “Professional Development for Language Teachers,” by Jack C. Richards and Thomas S.C. Farrell. Feedback on your own lesson provides valuable perspective, encouragement and advice on personal technique and methods.

Attending Regular Teaching Workshops
A good ESL teacher continually looks to grow as a teacher and improve her lessons. One way to do this is by attending workshops. A good ESL language school will have these as part of an on-going teacher development program. They will help you learn new teaching methods and expose you to new teaching materials and aids.

Targeting Each of the Four Main Language Skills
According to the book, “Grammar Practice Activities,” by Penny Ur, students need to recognize new language when they hear and see it, as well as be able to produce it orally and in written form. In practice, this means that general language courses should include reading, writing, listening and speaking activities.