To encourage and promote real conversations in English with beginning language learners.
Students sit in a circle, preferably around a table.
Many beginning ESOL Students are afraid to speak English for fear that they will be speaking incorrectly and perhaps laughed at. This approach provides a very relaxing and supportive atmosphere and actually gets the students to engage in real conversation. They hear the correct pronunciation from the teacher who stands behind the students and coaches them. The students are amazed to hear their conversations on the tape recorder. Ask the students to move the tables back and form a circle with the chairs.