It is important, when using drills, to make sure that they are tied to real-life issues. Do not teach drills in isolation! While they are a good way to improve accuracy and fluency, it is important that they are used in conjunction with a variety of other teaching strategies.

2. Dialogues

Dialogues are conversations between two or more people. Dialogues can be used with your ESL learner to help her learn patterns and structures, and are beneficial to use because the context is apparent. Dialogues vary in complexity and can be used for all levels. The following dialogue would be useful for a beginning learner who wants to learn how to ask for someone on the telephone.

• Person 1: Hello.
• Person 2: Hello. May I speak with Ranji?
• Person 1: Who is calling?
• Person 2: This is Namiko.
• Person 1: Please hold. I'll get Ranji.
• Person 2: Thank you.

Basic steps when using a dialogue

• Read the complete dialogue 2 - 3 times for the learner. Use normal speed and rhythm.
• Break the dialogue into sentences or short phrases. Say the first sentence or phrase and have the learner repeat.
• Repeat this process for each line. Repeat phrases whenever necessary.
• Repeat the entire dialogue with appropriate body language.
• Repeat the entire dialogue with your learner. You and the learner will read the dialogue together at the same time. (This is referred to as "choral reading.")
• Take a role! You can read the dialogue for person 1 and the learner can do the same for person 2.
• Reverse roles.