Beginning your journey in the English as a Second Language (ESL) classroom is often equal parts exciting and daunting – not only for yourself as the tutor, but for your students as well. In this post, Senior Chatteris Tutor Aarushi Ganguli provides some practical, simple, and adaptable tips to help build your confidence, as well as your students…

If you’ve ever stood in front of a classroom filled with ESL learners, you’ll know the mix of excitement and nerves that fills the room. Students are eager to connect, but many carry the weight of grammar worries, cultural differences, or the fear of ‘getting it wrong.’ As Chatteris tutors, we’re not just teaching a language; we’re helping students build confidence, find belonging, and discover their voice in English. But we have to oftentimes ask ourselves the question, what is the point in teaching students how to speak English, if we are not simultaneously helping them find their own voice? 

Here, I will be sharing practical, classroom‑tested strategies that make a real difference while also allowing students to find their own sense of belonging through using English. They’re simple, adaptable, and designed to help learners of any age thrive.

Start With a Safe, Welcoming Space

The first weeks of school set the tone for the entire year. When students feel respected and included, they’re far more willing to take risks with language. Icebreakers, group games, and community‑building activities help break down barriers and create trust. Cultural awareness matters too; acknowledging and celebrating students’ diverse backgrounds shows them they belong. In practice, this could mean inviting students to share traditions or holidays from their cultures, incorporating examples from different countries into lesson materials, or displaying multilingual greetings around the classroom. Even small gestures, like learning how to pronounce students’ names correctly or using stories that reflect diverse perspectives, signal respect and help build trust. A strong classroom culture built early pays dividends all year long. 

For many ESL learners, the fear of ‘getting it wrong’ is their biggest hurdle, especially in exam-driven school cultures where it is often instilled that mistakes signal failure. Chatteris tutors often attempt to flip this mindset through rewarding effort, not just accuracy. Role-plays, real-life scenarios, and class rules, such as ‘it’s okay to make mistakes’, encourage students to speak up without hesitation. 

Incentive schemes that celebrate participation can help to build this confidence further. I have often done this in practice through making ‘Ms. Aarushi money’ for upper primary, or using stickers for lower primary, giving them out when I see students making a genuine effort. 

Of course there are times when error correction is necessary after mistakes are made, however this should always be gentle and constructive. Think about how it feels as an adult to be corrected in front of others, whether it’s mispronouncing a word in a foreign language or making a mistake during a presentation. The sting of embarrassment can linger, and it often makes us hesitant to try again. For children learning English, that feeling is magnified. If correction is harsh, they may withdraw and stop making an effort with the language.

But when feedback builds confidence instead of tearing it down, mistakes become part of the learning journey rather than something to fear. Gentle correction, phrased positively, given at the right moment, and focused on encouragement, helps students see errors as stepping stones. Over time, they begin to understand that mistakes aren’t failures, but opportunities to grow.

Keep the Four Skills in Balance

Listening, speaking, reading, and writing are the pillars of language learning. A balanced approach helps students grow in all areas. It is recommended that, when it comes to balancing the four core skills, variety is key. For listening practice, short movie clips or podcasts work well because they expose students to authentic pronunciation and the rhythm of English. The clips should be kept brief so attention doesn’t drift, but even a few minutes can spark discussion. Speaking can then be reinforced through group conversations that build on what students have just heard, while reading short stories provides context and vocabulary in a more structured way. Finally, creative writing tasks allow learners to experiment with language and express themselves, tying together the skills they’ve been developing.

I would say first that you need to get to know your students in each class, as they will each need different things from your lesson. I have found it most effective if I mix at least 2-3 of these skills into one lesson, making it easier to see them as interconnected skills rather than individual ones. The mix of skills will also shift depending on the level of your class. Primary students may need more listening and speaking, while upper primary and secondary learners thrive on deeper reading and writing. Flexibility is key.

Adding to this idea, images, videos, flashcards, and digital whiteboards can transform a lesson from flat to dynamic. Technology adds another layer; language apps and online tools give students interactive practice that feels fun. Visuals also cater to different learning styles: some students absorb information best through pictures, others through sound or movement. Therefore, it is usually helpful to include different games, such as Kahoot or Bamboozle, to have students move around a bit while also helping auditory and visual learners engage in the material that is being taught. If you use different styles of instruction, as mentioned above, in your lesson, as well as giving each student feedback on how they have done, it can ensure every learner gets what they need to succeed.

Lastly, motivation skyrockets when lessons reflect what students care about. I, for example, have added animals to a slideshow to get some students to pay attention to the material that was being taught. I have added students’ pictures to slideshows to have them engage more with the material (especially the shyer students), a trick that works especially well for lower primary students. These things can have a massive impact on how students receive your lesson. Personalisation shows students their passions matter, and that sense of ownership fuels engagement and interest in your class, while also having their own voices heard.

Encourage English Beyond the Classroom

It is also important to emphasize that language learning doesn’t stop at the classroom door. Daily habits like reading short articles, watching English shows, or keeping a vocabulary notebook accelerate progress. Immersion, speaking English at home, reading English books, or chatting with friends in English, helps learners internalize the language naturally. We, as tutors, can guide students toward these habits by suggesting accessible resources and reinforcing the importance of practice.

Teaching ESL is about more than grammar drills; it’s about patience, creativity, and empathy. By building a welcoming classroom culture, learning from mistakes, using visuals and technology, balancing the four skills, personalising lessons, and encouraging practice beyond the classroom, we can help students thrive.

Every lesson is a chance to help students find their voice in English! Click here to be a part of this journey for students and apply for the Chatteris International Graduate Programme