EnglishGateway :: ESL Teacher Blog :: ESL Teacher Blog: Current Events

I like talking about current events to my students.

When teaching overseas, it gives the students the opportunity to talk about events they are familiar with, things that are happening in their own country. It generates a lot of new vocabulary. Students are able to speak about very familiar topics. For example, every spring in Japan the cherry trees blossom. This is celebrated throughout Japan with parties, picnics and outings. Students are able to inform you of the best days to see the cherry blossoms, the best locations, the best time of day etc. Sharing this information with a teacher, especially a foreign teacher, allows the students to gain confidence in their ability to communicate in English. It allows the students to feel proud of their English skills.

When teaching in your own country, it gives students the opportunity to talk about events that they aren’t as familiar with, yet want or need to know about. For example, April's Fools' Day is a notable day that many newcomers aren’t exactly clear about. By having students discuss the upcoming event, they are able to use new vocabulary and clarify misinformation about the event. They’ll become confident because they’ll be speaking about an event they need to know about. They knowledge will help them feel as if they are part of their new community, which will in turn motivate them to participate in the community and use more of the new language that they’ve learned.