By Eloisa B. Badua, Teacher III, Bumanlag SR. NHS

Learners as not native of the English language always have a hard time establishing a
smooth understanding and analysis of it. During the normal education set-up, teachers have
the opportunity to assess their learners in the steps in learning and eventually mastering the
language, though they still met a lot of troubles then, the perseverance of the learners were
supported by the teachers, the school and the parents.
With the sudden shift of not just a tiny space on the country but a worldwide shutting of
everything, learning has been bluffed by several factors with the usual privilege and freedom
to enjoy the essence of it in the four corners of a typical classroom. From the traditional five
days a week of meeting with the teachers where the practice of using second language is
consistent to online meetings where learners are hindered by connectivity problems causing
them to miss new learnings, using English as a Second Language for both the teachers and
the learners become more challenging.
Learning is continued inspite of these trying times in the system of teaching. English
language has been a trial for the learners; a task for the teachers. Although the growing
number of learners who use social media online platforms is vast that it even outnumbered
the number of learners who use English language when attending English classes, still, the
progress is seen. It cannot deny the fact that in this online world, learners face different faces
of applications and platforms that push them to learn the language while being techie. While
teachers are aware of the changes in the learning habit of the learners, exposing them to a
more complicated world while instilling them to love the language is not an easy task.
Making the learners committed to learn, to use and to love the English language is an

unending role of a language teacher. All though the foundation begins at home, the durability
of the foundation is pondered by the mentors.
With all the emerging venues for online instruction brought by the pandemic, both the
teachers and the learners have their own ways of coping up with the changes. Adapting to
these changes, several ways can be performed to meet and surpass what is expected from the
two components of the teaching-learning process while contemplating on the essence of
English as the second language.
Below are some of the possible techniques that can be applied by the teacher.

1. Know the Students. Building rapport with the students make it easier for the teachers
   to encourage them to learn and persevere. Learners find it comfortable when they are
   treated by their teachers equally and kindly.
2. I-You-We Method. Always make the learners feel that you are with them throughout
   the learning process. “I” means, you do the task first, show them how it is done by
   demonstrating and modelling; “You” means learners do the task after it is taught and
   “We” means learners do the work with you as their guide. The last part of the method
   is where the teacher comment on the performance of the learners.
3. Sandwich Approach. It is safer to correct a mistake immediately but be careful in
   doing so. Take this sandwich, not a typical bread but has something to do with
   inserting a special spread between two slices of bread. First, tell the learner what is
   wrong with the output; second, focus on the good and commendable that the learner
   does and third, go back again to correction. In this regard, the teacher can at least
   boost the confidence of the learner while fixing the errors.
4. A Word a Day. Traditionally, when talking about enhancing English communicating
   skills and having wide vocabulary, consulting all kinds of dictionary is on top of the

list. Online learning provides lots of ways for both the teachers and the learners to
scout words they want to add to their own dictionary. Nowadays, in one click,
definitions and other word structures are automatically listed in a mobile word
application.

5. Implementing Technology in Teaching. Incorporating Technology into your teaching
   is a great way to engaged actively the learners since they find it difficult to cope up
   the fact that they are learning not their own language but a second language. It will
   help the teacher to arouse and sustain the interest of the learners. Teenagers love all
   sorts of technology, so teachers should be pliant.
6. English language is not a spooky thing. Struggling learners obviously want to learn
   EL but afraid to be mocked by their classmates; it is actually one of the reasons why
   learners tend to just stay quiet instead of expressing themselves; they are afraid that
   they might be humiliated when they commit mistakes. Teachers have to remind the
   learners that committing errors is not an issue.
7. One Size Does Not Fit All Principle. Always bear in mind that learners are diverse.
   They have different levels of capabilities. Strategies that are effective to a single
   group might be futile when applied to other groups. It’s a good practice if teachers are
   equipped with various teaching methods and strategies.
8. Love what you do. Teaching is a calling and believe that it is a forever partner. When
   you love what you do, there will be no reasons for you to stop the program or to leave
   the learners hanging. You cannot afford to see them fail from what you taught them
   initially. Once you begin, you should finish it.