Teaching ESL in a flash

Most people are visual learners, at least when starting out with basic vocabulary and phrases. Flash cards aren't exactly a new innovation. Cards with pictures and/or words on them are a pretty basic tool in a teacher's bag of tricks. They can be used in just about any kind of lesson.

The ESL flash card motherlode is Boggle's World. The cards are categorized according to theme. For example, Superhero cards are great for practicing modals (can, can't, may, might, etc.) , actions in various verb tenses and colors. The Season and Day flash cards are great for... well, you get the idea. As of this posting, there are 32 categories to choose from - all perfectly free and printable. The site also has job listings and worksheets for ESL teachers.

A few things to remember about using flashcards. There's really no need to print up fifty sets of cards for fifty different occasions. Typically, you'll need one set showing different kinds of people, another showing hobbies, another with different jobs, one with different kinds of houses and one with tools and common household objects. Pick five or six flash card sets and recycle them through the school term. Save a tree and keep your desk free of clutter.

Students actually seem to appreciate it when they see the same cards used again and again in different situations. I think it gives them a comforting sense of continuity, and also helps to remind them of language they've learned in past lessons.

tags: Boggle's World, flash cards, flashcards, fun activities, visual learner, memorization