Online English classes for kids

English is the most important international language. There are several hundred million people
learning it at any one time. Several hundred thousand of us teach it. If you are a teacher of English
or thinking of becoming one, you have an advantage over almost every other profession; with the tool
of our trade, the English language, we can all communicate with each other!
We teach English in many situations. Most of the course is of relevance or interest to teachers in all
situations, but you may have to assess the relative importance of each point in your situation. To help
you we have thought of teachers of English falling into six to eight categories, as in Table 1. You
should see which are more relevant in one situation than in another.
In some situations it is fairly arbitrary (and not of much importance) whether we call it teaching English
as a Foreign Language (EFL) or as a Second Language (ESL); this is why the term ESOL, English to
Speakers of Other Languages, is often preferred. Whatever we call it, we must be sure what the
learner's aims are. For example:
• to take part in the host community
• for social purposes, tourism, following an interest
• for academic purposes, to read texts in English; or because higher education is through the
medium of English
• for professional purposes - international contact in connection with work; or because English is
the medium of the learner's intended profession
• for purposes of advancement - English speakers get the best jobs, or they are more like to get
promotion; or an examination pass is required to enter college
• for intellectual pleasure, to appreciate English literature
• none - English is a compulsory part of the curriculum