HOW TO MANAGE WORK RELATED STRESS

0.English-as-a-Second Language, or ESL as it is more commonly known, has a long history. Though ESL classes in the way that we know them are relatively new, the use of English across cultures is not. In fact, English has long been used as a Lingua Franca, that is, a common language for communication. The expansion of the British Empire in the 15th century required the colonizers to do business, so Britain sent over teachers to educate the locals. They established a bilingual education system so that the new generation would be fluent in both their native language and English.

1.However, early ways of instruction were vastly different than they are today. ESL education in the 19th century involved heavy memorization and translation techniques. While this approach, The Grammar-Translation Method, helped learners become proficient in translation, it offered little communicative value. Language was presented out of context and pronunciation was not taught, making it difficult for students to confidently use English in real life. Regrettably, this style remained popular until the middle of the 20th century, and elements of it are still used today in some classrooms.

2.Dissatisfied with this way of instruction, The Direct-Method, became mainstream and rose to popularity. Unlike its predecessor, this new style was focused on the principles of speaking only English in class. This emphasis was supported by an increased focus on pronunciation as well. What this style still lacked however was the use of meaningful situations. So, the Audio-Lingual Method remedied this. Students in the 1960s flocked to classes where they could listen and reproduce authentic dialogues. Yet, as an ode to the first method used in ESL, memorization was a learning technique.

3.While the first few methods of English teaching either built on or moved away from one another, some experimental approaches did not have a lasting influence. Let’s take Suggestopedia as an example. Through the use of background music and relaxation techniques, students were made to feel comfortable enough to produce language. Another example is the Silent Way, where students were exposed to visuals without direct teaching support. While these methods sound appealing to some, there was no real focus on language. What’s more is that without challenging students appropriately, they could not learn efficiently.

4.While teachers may have developed their own flair for teaching, it is The Communicative Approach that dominates classrooms today. As the title suggests, students engage in meaningful activities in order to practice their oral skills. Activities include role-plays, discussions, and different interaction patterns. Although critics of this approach suggest that there is an unbalanced focus on speaking, rather than writing, listening, and reading, most teachers will incorporate these skills into their lessons as well.

5.With that criticism in mind, ESL classes with particular focuses have been developed. Learners who rely on English for work-related purposes may opt for a Business English class in order to fine-tune specific skills. In these courses, students may learn how to write a business report or navigate a meeting with international clients. Likewise, English-for-Academic-Purposes, or EAP, has become its own subject in universities around the globe to help learners’ transition into post-secondary studies in their second, third or even fourth language for some. In fact, students can even take classes to prepare for international English exams to certify their abilities.

6.However, it is not just ESL students who travel around the world. A career as an ESL teacher allows you to travel and work. The demand is certainly there. Foreign countries are often actively recruiting native-English speaker teachers from the UK, USA, or Canada, to come and teach. These positions vary in salary and benefits, depending on the country. What is certain though is that teachers can enjoy different cultures, better weather and a change of pace from their native country.

7.Nevertheless, there are upcoming trials that face the ESL industry. As the world’s population has more people who speak English as a second, or even third language, proficient non-native speakers are struggling to gain employment in the field. Moreover, the uncertainty of English’s status as the world’s Lingua Franca is also in question. Many predict that Mandarin has the possibility to take over, as it has the largest proportion of native speakers. Additionally, the increase of digital technologies in education has the potential to create a whole new method of instruction. Undoubtedly, ESL education will face many changes in the future that will require both their learners and teachers to adapt.