Make a visit to the library and learn basic library signs and skills. Use library materials in class for clarification. Practise dictionary and other help-seeking skill strategies once learners appear ready to acquire such information. Explore and decode the high school handbook when ESL skills permit. Bus skills and school rules are needed as soon as students arrive at a new school, so these should be taught, by an interpreter, if necessary, within the first few days of beginning school.
Students can learn about the city's transit system by studying bus schedules and maps.
Telephone vocabulary, using appropriate greetings and polite expressions, is a basic need that can be developed through practice, discussion and role-play in the classroom. Find out what interests students, such as their favourite music or movies, and use these as the basis for developing discussion with learners. Show students how to use a television with the sound turned down to observe and imitate gestures, pauses and facial expressions. Use a Polaroid camera to provide an instant picture to stimulate talk or writing. Write meaningful letters, such as thank you letters, letters to a newspaper, or others.