English as a second language

[TaraP]

We have an exchange student this year who is enrolled in the local public school.  He is concerned with being behind on his English studies when he returns home.  He will have to take some exams.  English class at the high school is just literature pretty much.  He needs grammar and vocabulary from an English as a second language point of view.  Any ideas of good resources or programs to help him learn?

[Brad S]

What about the materials they're using in his school back home?  Overall, he'll learn far more English here than back home, but I understand the testing issue.  Materials from his school back home will help prepare more specifically for those tests.  Perhaps he could do it over the summer upon his return.  If he knows what he needs to learn, he could learn it from an English grammar book, but it might be easier using one in the first language that points out similarities and differences with English.  

[Loesje22000]

He can use this:

http://www.bookdepository.com/search?searchTerm=Cambridge+english+in+use&search=Find+book

Or this:

http://www.amazon.com/Complete-Advanced-Students-Answers-CD-ROM/dp/110767090X/ref=sr_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1452858196&sr=1-3&keywords=Cambridge+advanced+english+complete

 

Or IGCSE English as a second language if he is 13-15

[madteaparty]

How old (can't see on mobile).

I had a 10 year old exchange student this year. We made tremendous progress, but I looked for ESL resources and could find surprisingly few here in tbe US. I guess the assumption is immersion will take care of it?

I did use the following resources:

Brainpop esl on the ipad

http://www.amazon.com/Practice-Perfect-English-Grammar-Learners/dp/0071807373/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1452858992&sr=8-1&keywords=Practice+makes+perfect+english(I recomend this and other books in this series)

But we are not heavy grammar students here. We take what I guess would be called a whole languahe approach. To that end, I made him memorize poems, and the one thing that really made his english skills jump was reading books while listening to the same audiobooks.

[Momling]

I think the best grammar resources are:

 

Azar Understanding and Using English Grammar

Murphy English Grammar in Use

 

Azar is better for pair or class work and Murphy for self-study. Both are clear and straightforward.

Edited January 15, 2016 by Momling

[TaraP]

Thank you everyone for the suggestions!  I will look at each one today.  

 

He is turning 16 and is in 10th grade.  He should graduate next year. 

 

I agree his day to day English will be better, but he will be tested on formal English and grammar.  Sadly those skills are not used as much in school.

 

Listening to the audio while reading the book is a fantastic idea!  Being able to read a book and discuss it in a different language shows a good mastery of the language to me.  But it is not what he needs to pass tests back home.

[Penguin]

I am a volunteer ESL teacher. My students are mostly in their 20s, and I am using the English Grammar in Use series from Cambridge. I am really happy with the course.

 

http://www.cambridge.org/dk/cambridgeenglish/catalog/grammar-vocabulary-and-pronunciation/english-grammar-use-4th-edition

 

There are three levels - just make sure you but the one with the answer key!

 

I have these two:

 

Beginner

ISBN 978 1 107 48055 1

 

Intermediate

ISBN 978 0 521 18906 4