Practical Applications of TESOL’s 6 Principles of Exemplary Teaching of English Learners

Abstract

The "6 Principles" of Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) are based on decades of research and are meant to serve as universal guidelines for effective English-language teaching and learning. The principles are as follows (TESOL 2018): (1) Know your learners; (2) Create conditions for language learning; (3) Design high-quality lessons for language development; (4) Adapt lesson delivery as needed; (5) Monitor and assess student language development; and (6) Engage and collaborate within a community of practice. The purpose of this article is for the author to offer a closer look at what the principles mean for fellow English as a Foreign Language (EFL) teachers, and to suggest practical ways teachers in almost any country or context can incorporate the principles into their own careers.