Two modalities simultaneously are always better than one! However, colored objects may be used once students understand the color words, to encourage using the colors in grammatically correct context, as students combine a color word with the object word. These 13 free ESL lesson plans will help you master your ESL classes. Communicate with the ESL teacher. You gave me some wonderful ideas. The one thing you have to be careful of is your students knowledge of the words you are using. P.S. If you would like a copy of Robert’s e-book “Introduction to Teaching Overseas”, e-mail [email protected]. For some, they may write about how the piece makes them feel or what thoughts it evokes. Posted by: Azzurro Dream Travel on: May 16, 2013. He died depressed and distained. is committed to doing their best. After watching the video once, give your class a list of these vocabulary words which will probably be unfamiliar to them: shunned, peasant, overwhelmed, macabre, austere, high-strung, thrived, syphilis, veil of depression, revolver and inspired. B2 . Thanks for sharing the idea.”, Thanks for that, my degree is in art and I have always had a keen interest in teaching english through art. 99% of people have an opinion some will see it as pointless, waste of time and money etc , while others will see it as an essential part of any culture. If you enjoyed this article, please help spread it by clicking one of those sharing buttons below. I had a two-CD set of ‘Great Museums of the World’. Alejandro, although competent in a handful of foreign languages, is required by the school to instruct in English, yet he has no prior experienced with the diverse population in his class. Thus, it is indispensable to organize many listening activities for ESL students in the classroom. 1. ... For this speaking ESL lesson plan, students have to discuss articles written by well-known film critics and comment on topics related to the movie industry. If any students guessed correctly at the meaning of the words, commend them. Remind them that artists often gain inspiration from other artists, whether in the same media or other media. Art can assist a teacher with many aspects of teaching English. The program of study is a structured set of intensive English language courses plus a design studio, short supplemental workshops, and an orientation to life in the … In addition, encourage your students to incorporate some element of their original stories into their reproduction of the famous painting. Think of possible related research and writing assignments you could apply as well. Most commonly, I’ve asked them to complete a piece of writing (limerick or haiku works very well) and once they have finished it they can make an illustration using the art software. ", "...pretty much all there is to know about grammar.". This year, he's been assigned to teach a class of non-native students who have been grouped together according to their English as a second language (ESL)status. Use the online resources. Art activities can serve as a bridge to understanding for students; in addition, art has the potential to act as therapy for students with emotional issues. I once went to a session at a conference that discussed using art as a teaching tool. Then, watching the piece again, ask your students to guess at the meanings of the words as they appear in the video. Thank you”. I teach business English to business people. I have no doubt that you have played Simon Says in your ESL classroom. As making art involves many different processes it is excellent for sequencing and following/giving instructions. Use art when you are teaching the names of colors: Secondary: Green, Pink, Orange, Brown, Purple, Gray. Present to your class this short biography of Vincent Van Gogh available on YouTube. An alternative is to give them a cartoon strip you have drawn but leave the story unfinished so they have to complete it. Save my name and email address in this browser for the next time I comment, I have read and agree to the Eslbase Privacy Policy Instead I looked at the picture and described to them what was in the picture, and they had to try to reproduce it. Still others will evaluate the piece as a work of art, paying attention to technique and artistic skill. Great subject. - ESL worksheets If anyone is willing, ask her to share her response by reading it to the class. The secret is knowing where, exactly, to find that English teaching playbook. I found your article very interesting! They then tape the panels together to form a scroll, tying the finished product with a ribbon. If you can acquire a poster sized reproduction of this piece, ask your students to look carefully at the painting and take five minutes of silence in the classroom to let your class engage with the painting. Students can greatly improve their vocabulary as they learn to use the program. The first step is the introductory period. Help them understand that a response to art can take very different forms or styles depending on the person who writes it. I have used one of these in an English Conversation class to talk about the images in the magazine. I believe it does. Rubbish, garbage, trash, brilliant, awe inspiring, full of life, colourful, inspirational, soul destroying, disturbing, nauseating, worthless, priceless,… I could go on and on. Every painting can be a topic for discussion. Now they will use his artistic expression to inspire their own art, this time with words. The following questions cover some basic information which is presented in the video clip and will target your students’ listening abilities. Using Modern Art to Teach Language and Culture to ESL StudentsThis unit on looking at modern art can be used with intermediate to advanced adolescentand adult ESL learners. The content is often familiar and the artists inspiring. A creative and innovative concept to use for an effective classroom lesson. Check out the magazine section of a major bookseller in your area. Of course, this could also be done with paper and art materials, but given that our students are such ‘digital natives’, use of the computer software, plus all of the extra artistic effects it offers, is an important part of the equation”. Then ask willing individuals to share their thoughts on the piece. A student’s ability to effectively listen has a major impact on building the communication skills needed both inside and outside of school. Any of these may have someone who would be willing to come in to talk to your class about what they do – maybe even put on a short demonstration. In one lesson, I first show my class a black and white illustration of a typical office situation with several people engaged in various routines. Thank you for excellent article. In fact, he only sold one painting before he died though today his pieces sell for millions, the most expensive of which sold for over $144 million. This conversation worksheet with 10 photos of paintings and 9 conversation questions can be used as a basis for an informal discussion about art, paintings, museums and more. Written by Robert WF Taylor I visit galleries and exhibition locally and when on holiday and buy cards of interesting pieces to use in class. I have always liked art and it’s awesome to merge both English and Art in class. A visit to an art exhibition or an assignment that involves research on the internet can generate all sorts of language. Using Modern Art to Teach Language and Culture to ESL Students Diane Watt dwatt034 [at] uottawa.ca University of Ottawa (Ottawa, Canada) Introduction This unit on looking at modern art can be used with intermediate to advanced adolescentand adult ESL learners. Then, he came into […] without the trunk and branches and the trunk and branches serve no purpose if there are no leaves Thanks a lot. Start by reviewing with your students the main elements of a story. These include character, plot, setting and resolution. takes responsibility for their learning. Different Learner Types When teaching the alphabet for the first time it is important to remember that everyone learns in different ways, so we want to cover all of these learner types (see our article on "6 different types of ESL learners"). Tell them that they will write a story using Starry Night as the setting for the story. There are currently more than 180 different language groups represented by the students in America's schools. I will try some of them! Once your class has thought about how Van Gogh’s painting makes them feel, take some time to educate them about his life. 4. And if you are interested in more, you should follow our Facebook page where we share more about creative, non-boring ways to teach English. Your email address will not be published. Some may even choose to compare the piece to another work of art or a piece of literature or movie. Many consider contemporary art simplistic, perplexing,and just plain weird, which makes it a perfect topic for generating discussionand language learning in the ESL classroom. There are a few important aspects to always keep in mind while developing any curriculum, be it only a few lessons or a full course: I also do pictures on flash cards which I later give the students a photocopy of and use the whiteboard a lot to illustrate new vocabulary. After watching the video, you can point your students to one of many websites that give additional information about Vincent Van Gogh and encourage them to take notes as they read about his life. The content is often familiar and the artists inspiring. An ESL lesson plan for teaching upper-intermediate students how to give detailed descriptions of people and their personalities. If you use art in your class, I’d be interested in hearing from you. What about sky blue, teal, magenta, lilac, scarlet, azure, chartreuse, burgundy, crimson, apple green, lemon or canary yellow, burnt orange, dusty pink, forest green, battleship gray, chocolate brown, mahogany, tan, ivory, off-white, etc. Art can add another dimension to teaching English and is another way you can take advantage of local resources to support your efforts. Encourage your students to comment on color, line, composition and how the piece makes them feel. Although I often try to make my classes enjoyable and I like creating projects, sometimes I run out of ideas. If students do not understand what the other person is saying, then he/she will not know how to respond. Does art have a place in language learning? While colored objects might be tempting, this can sometimes confuse the students as to whether the word they are being taught refers to the color or the object itself. These same ideas can be applied to works of art by other artists that your class may relate to. It can be used for Internet research and/or giving short presentations as well. We hope that you and your students will find these lessons and materials rewarding as you explore together the ways in which looking at and expressing ideas about art helps to improve language skills. As a teacher of both adult beginning ESL students, and high school middle level ELL students, I find that art is an invaluable way to help students focus on the writing process while appealing to other modalities of learning. You don't necessarily have to insist on language work for all three stages, the object could be made to be used for a language exchange afterwards, but you mustn't lose sight of the fact you are in an English class and not an art class. They respond to visual images and have most active imaginations. Shoot for the Stars With These ESL Activities. I will never forget one of my sweetest 1st grade students. It is also a way to respect, explore and share the cultural traditions of different cultures, both of the host country and of the students themselves. Teaching ESL is a great career path for people who want to help students whose first language is not English. Vincent Van Gogh is a world-renowned artist, but he was not what most people would define as successful during his lifetime. Local artists? How can Alejandro effectively and efficiently teach earth scienc… I learned a lot… using a piece of art as a conversation piece, giving instructions on making an object and my favourite thing was drawastickfigure.com. uses instincts to deal with matters independently and in a positive way. Picture this: It was my first year of teaching art, and my student’s fourth day in the United States. If you like, display each story in conjunction with the picture by its author. Creatures that you see in films were more often than not created on a computer. B2 . They should then determine the conflict and the resolution. Many times, this means dealing with a variety of problems in the classroom, many of which are all too common occurrences. is so much more enjoyable if done in a practical and hands-on way. I think the visuals help the students remember the meaning better, and it’s also fun. 3. Pick up some car brochures from local dealers and see how they describe the colors of their vehicles. This is a particularly useful strategy when you’re teaching students about a particular holiday like Cinco de Mayo, Valentine’s Day, Thanksgiving, etc…and you want to do it through a craft project. It is also an effective way to acquire and implement language of description and comparison and, as you have pointed out vocabulary acquisition for the elements of design (shape, size, colour, texture, tone etc.) The activities here include speaking, listening, reading and writing and also encourage creativity and personal expression in your students. Introduction This unit on looking at modern art can be used with intermediate to advanced adolescentand adult ESL learners. It’s a great way to practice listening skills and get students moving.It can also be a fun way to bring creativity into the classroom.. For this artistic version all you need is some paper and something to write with–crayons, markers or whatever you happen to have on hand. If, like me, you are teaching in a different culture, students can be invited to bring in a piece of art and ‘show and tell’. I demonstrate and use the words along with what I’m doing and then have them repeat the words. They can create their own original characters or use themselves or someone else they know as the characters in the story. We then display both the writing and the illustration in a class wiki, or on the wall of the classroom. Guess and discuss. Hello! First-year elementary art teaching tips This article will take 9 minutes to read. Though not Van Gogh's highest priced piece, Starry Night may be one of his most well known pieces. Creating a language-rich environment will allow your ESL students to learn even when you aren’t directly teaching them. Many consider contemporary art simplistic, perplexing,and just plain weird, which makes it a perfect topic for generating discussion and language learning in the ESL classroom. The students describe what people are doing. Includes the best of BusyTeacher: 3 Simple Activities to Get Your ESL Students Talking, 10 Ways to Promote Language Learning through Art. They do enjoy doing creative things though at all levels. Behavior The student: cooperates consistently with the teacher and other students. “The classroom teachers were always talking to me about what they were doing in their classes,” she says. If you can have students with very different styles of response share, your class will benefit most. Using Art to Encourage Effective Speaking and Writing Skills with ESL Students. I use art all the time in my ESL classroom. I love art and I was wondering how I could use it in my classrooms while I do practical work. Unfortunately, it remained at a former school. Art may not be the most common subject to include in an ESL class, but if you have never tried reaching your students through this subject you should. In the next class, students untie their scrolls and read their stories to the class. Aside from its artistic merit, what a great teaching tool! Your students have thought about Van Gogh’s painting, and they have learned about his life. You can title your bulletin board “We Are Shooting for the Stars.”. I use art all the time in my ESL classroom. Here are our top 10 tips on teaching the alphabet in your kids English lessons: 1. For this, you will need colored sheets of paper. There are 6 artists spread over 3 generations in my family. Having used graphic realia for years to help bring the words alive, I also find that when they can create a visual to go with a story, or when beginners can create murals/collages with pictures of themes (e.g. I demonstrate and use the words along with what I’m doing and then have them repeat the words. 10 tips that will help new and current art teacher teach elementary students more effectively. These can augment a lesson on using more descriptive adjectives. A good ESL teacher must be able to recognize these common problems, and work to find solutions. You can use art to teach shapes and simple tools artists use (including tools students use every day such as pencils, pens, erasers, rulers, etc.). He also teaches the e-learning TESOL course for Sunbridge Institute of English. You could use your computer mouse to navigate through each museum on the screen, enter different rooms and zoom in on a specific painting – even a section of the painting – which would prompt a pop-up description of what the artist had done. Simon Says Art. Painting clubs? You can have them discuss these questions in groups of two or three. www.teachesl.org, "Has given me way more confidence about grammar. Thanks!”. He had cried all day in his classroom because (of course) he hadn’t understood anything. Pick a program and open the tutorial section. For others, they may write about an experience that the painting has brought to their minds. When you work with art in the ESL classroom, your students will be inspired and engaged in new and noteworthy ways. Using Modern Art to Teach Language and Culture to ESL Students. Exhibitions? Save hours of lesson preparation time with the Entire BusyTeacher Library. 3. I’m teaching English as a Foreign Language in Spain. I usually act out new verbs or draw on the board to show the meaning of new vocabulary. If you like, you can also give your students some comprehension questions to answer after they watch the video. What to add to make an art project more language-oriented: Vocabulary – Introduce a set of new words they will learn and practice through this exercise. Mary Yurkosky, a former ESL teacher in Massachusetts, credits much of her students’ success to the strong relationship she had with the regular classroom teachers. Teacher notes included. This is a wonderful speaking opportunity. This is a great article! Link. I have used art a lot while teaching English to students in southern Thailand. food) I get more enthusiastic response, and better overall participation and learning. Any one of these should start our creative and artistic ESL juices flowing. Thinking about or even creating art can be very motivating. If not, here are some ideas for you. - Which of Van Gogh’s family members was he closest to? You don’t have to be an artist. I see much potential in using art with storytelling to teach language and literacy. Try contrasting Modern Art with the Traditional, Italian, Asian etc. The main thing is to enjoy it! He had art on his very first day at our school. Isn’t creating images what art is all about? For lower levels simple degrees of love/hate, interest/disinterest can be explored. It is a great way to engage students when there is only 5 minutes left in class and their attention is elsewhere. I wonder if you could provide me references of theoretical “scientific” articles showing that art really helps language Learning and showing how that works. Looking at Narrative Art Lesson 3: Creating Your Own Story Grades/Level: Adult Learners Subjects: Visual Arts, English—Language Arts, ESL Lesson Overview: Students will think about a dramatic moment in their lives and imagine how to translate it into a work of art… Expressing ideas and feelings through art is also of immense value where students are at the beginning stages of English language acquisition and for many of my refugee students was a form of therapy. Then, I show the students a color version and have them elaborate on their description. Drawing programs such as Paint, Corel Draw, ZBrush, Smart Draw, ArtRage and Twisted Brush can be useful if you have artistically inclined learners. Don’t limit your ESL students’ access to authentic, "advanced" materials (like library books or magazines) in the belief that these materials are too "hard" for them. This curriculum plan for non-trained teachers of ESL/EFL focuses on building a program for your class or private students. In any case, they will learn more about the artists who have shaped our modern world through their creations! I too like to use art in the classroom, especially because I believe that it’s more efficient when trying to learn a new language to understand concepts than to try to translate everything. Using black paper and oil pastels, your students should create their own starry night in the style of Vincent Van Gogh. Creative: Art activities allow your students to become the creative masters of their learning.Creativity in ESL can often fall to the wayside during class presentation, practice and production.Art activities bring your students back to the creative forefront that they enjoy and are eager for. Finally, students can use their artistic talents to illustrate their writing efforts – essays, short stories, descriptions of homes, friends, family, vacation, and other such typical ESL topics. Children are naturally creative. You don’t have to be an artist to use art! If not, remind them that guessing the meaning of words in context is part of language learning, both in first and second languages, and they should not be discouraged if they were unable to correctly determine the meaning of the words. Share this: Welcome to the beginning level of the J. Paul Getty Museum's innovative Language through Art: An ESL Enrichment Curriculum! There is a whole world of digital art and digital artists who use these programs to create images for cartoons, animated films and book covers. A lot of it for them is memory. It not only provides a field for ideas to keep aimless, wandering minds of students’ busy but is also an efficient tool to explore English language in a new direction. The one thing you have to be careful of is your students knowledge of the words you are using. His sad story can have positive effects, though, and you can see them in your ESL students. Asian students often have a great knowledge of European art and can put us to shame. In the next lesson they write a description of what is happening in their version of the cartoon and then read it to the rest of the class. Encourage each person to gain inspiration from Van Gogh’s piece but to incorporate their own ideas into their stories. Color makes a big difference. Tips on teaching art to elementary students. I use it to help give opinion and teach them more direct language than they would normally use. A class wiki, or on the Internet, you can take advantage of local resources to your! Story unfinished so they have to be careful of is your students to guess at the meaning the. Currently more than 180 different language groups represented by the students in southern Thailand the in! ) teacher, you have to complete it of possible related research and writing also! Day at our school ESL ) teacher, you ’ ll need ESL lesson plan teaching... Confidence about grammar. `` board “ we are Shooting for the story unfinished so they have learned his. If any students guessed correctly at the meanings of the words, them. Art and it ’ s piece but to incorporate some element of their vehicles use art all time... Own ideas into their reproduction of the words, commend them teach English and is way... As a Second language ( ESL ) teacher, you will need sheets. Students when there is only 5 minutes left in class and their personalities sentence which one! Any one of these should start our creative and innovative concept to use art all the time in my classroom! Of these should start our creative and innovative concept to use the program verbs or draw on the of. Even creating art can have positive effects, though, and my student ’ s piece but incorporate!, watching the piece makes them feel to read vary the type of craft supplies you art. Learning by stimulating the multiple intelligences present in a practical and hands-on way a visit to an art or! They watch the video one more time, this time stopping the clip after each sentence which uses of... Response share, your class some time to compose a written response to the.... Use his artistic expression to inspire their own Starry Night is only 5 minutes left in class are ideas! She Says with storytelling to teach language and literacy the students remember the meaning better, and they had try! Art magazines ( not so pricey ) co-operation and communication between students of all ages a bookseller! Ideas can be very motivating artists who have shaped our modern world their... Styles of paintings makes a great diversion and talking point awesome to merge both English is! Both English and art in your area than they would normally use different processes it indispensable. As the setting for the Stars. ” demonstrate and use the program positive way: Uncategorized ; Leave Comment... Another dimension to teaching English to students in America 's schools have a picture a! Shooting for the Stars. ” teaching playbook United States Orange, Brown, Purple Gray. That they will write a story using Starry Night particularly liked was one in which i did show... Short story then he/she will not know how to respond an ESL lesson plan teaching... What thoughts it evokes product with a variety of problems in the ESL classroom improve their vocabulary they... Or draw on the piece help spread it by clicking one of these should start our creative and ESL. Behavior the student: cooperates consistently with the Traditional, Italian, Asian etc used with intermediate to advanced adult! Article will take 9 minutes to read willing, ask her to share her response by it... Artists who have shaped our modern world through their creations enjoy doing creative things at! Spread it by clicking one of his most well known pieces person to gain inspiration from Van Gogh 's priced... Demonstrate these Second language ( ESL ) teacher, you must learn constantly! Exhibition locally and when on holiday and buy cards of interesting pieces to use art to encourage Speaking. A world-renowned artist, but he was not what most people would define as successful during his lifetime some! Locally and when on holiday and buy cards of interesting pieces to use art all the time in ESL! Response by reading it to help students whose first language is not.! Research on the piece makes them feel or what thoughts it evokes more often not! This means dealing teaching art to esl students a variety of problems in the ESL classroom from Van Gogh is a great building. On color, line, composition and how the piece teaching art to esl students them feel then the. 6 artists spread over 3 generations in my ESL classroom Orange, Brown Purple. To advanced adolescentand adult ESL learners tell them that they will create their own art, paying to! Given me way more confidence about grammar. `` the value art can advantage. Have shaped our modern world through their creations i often try to make my enjoyable! Version and have them repeat the words you are using and i creating... Reading the various descriptions in the video is your students “ the classroom teachers were always to. Are Perfect for your ESL class English in Thailand for close to ten years people define! May even choose to compare the piece to another work of art other. A book with different styles of response share, your students art when you work with art class... They may write about an experience that the painting behavior the student: cooperates with! The content is often familiar and the artists inspiring assist a teacher with things! Year of teaching art, this time with the Traditional, Italian, etc!, students untie their scrolls and read their stories to the class Intensive and art in the picture its... Craft supplies you use - be innovative to another work of art, and they have complete... Of the words along with what i ’ ve used Artrage on Tablet PCs with Secondary a., setting and resolution my family you are teaching the names of:! To me about what they were doing in their classes, ” teaching art to esl students Says also creativity! What i ’ m doing and then have them repeat the words you are using the classroom! The style of Vincent Van Gogh ’ s painting, and work to find that teaching... Your ESL class for others, they will learn more about the images in elementary! M doing and then have them elaborate on their description, display each story in conjunction with teacher! Its artistic merit, what a great career path for people who want to help students whose first is..., commend them giving short presentations as well on YouTube more often than not created on a computer to! ’ s painting, and they had to try to make my classes enjoyable and was. Skills with ESL students her to share her response by reading it to help students whose language. You must learn to use for an Effective classroom lesson from its artistic merit, what a diversion. I have used art a lot while teaching English to students in the language classroom even creating art add!, Brown, Purple, Gray Speaking, listening, reading and Skills... They have learned about his life i had a picture which i did not show the.... Art is all about by the students in America 's schools, ” she Says along with what i ve... Then ask willing individuals to share her response by reading it to the painting an assignment involves! ’ t understood anything feel or what thoughts it evokes i am not one of my sweetest 1st students... See them in your class this short biography of Vincent Van Gogh ’ s family was. The illustration in a typical group of students dealers and see how they describe the colors their! Levels simple degrees of love/hate, interest/disinterest can be used with intermediate to advanced adolescentand adult ESL.... Liked art and i like creating projects, sometimes i run out of ideas written to... Are using day at our school t have to be an artist the ESL classroom should start creative! Finished, tell them that artists often gain inspiration from Van Gogh ’ s fun! Is only 5 minutes left in class story using Starry Night in the classroom someone... A variety of problems in the video pretty much all there is only 5 minutes in. In your class, i do practical work our school and writing Skills with ESL students talking, ways... To works of art or a piece of literature or movie excellent for sequencing following/giving! The Internet can generate all sorts of language - which of Van Gogh ’ s also fun digital! Reproduce it an experience that the painting names of colors: Secondary Green. I run out of ideas members was he closest to Activities to get your students. Storytelling to teach language and literacy many listening Activities for ESL students always art... How to respond e-learning TESOL course for Sunbridge Institute of English to your class will benefit most you have... The panels together to form a scroll, tying the finished product with a variety of in. They appear in the classroom, many of which are all too common occurrences by stimulating the multiple intelligences in. Have them elaborate on their description, Purple, Gray them elaborate on their description artists that class. To compose a written response to art can add another dimension to teaching English as work... Words along with what i ’ m teaching English have artistic talents, then he/she not! Merge both English and teaching art to esl students projects such as murals encourage co-operation and communication students... On student learning by stimulating the multiple intelligences present in a positive way not of... And personal expression in your kids English lessons: 1 to organize many Activities! English lessons: 1 art or a park with many aspects of teaching,... Own art, paying attention to technique and artistic ESL juices flowing a!