“Okay,” I said, wracking my brain. “The truth is, after I finished my essay I took a nap. I had the craziest dream! There were thousands of trees around me, so close that I couldn’t fit through them. I tried to climb over but I was stuck. It was thundering and getting dark. Suddenly I realized the trees had eyes and mouths. They stared at me! The tallest angriest tree said ‘James, you killed my family to write an essay about how living green saves the environment! You’re murdering us one page at a time!’ The other trees wailed and grabbed at me with their branches. It was scary! I woke up screaming! I just can’t use paper Mrs. Cox. If you have to fail me, fail me. But my essay will be just as good if I type it up and turn it in online. Save the trees!” I threw my fist up in the air for effect.
It is helpful if you know a little about the ESL students' backgrounds and interests, since this will enable you to make connections to their personal lives. At the ESL placement interview the ESL teacher finds out this information and then sends it out to all concerned by e-mail. Little things can be important, such as spelling the child's name correctly and learning how to pronounce it with some accuracy. It is also helpful in class to seat ESL students with native-speakers who are sympathetic and encouraging. You can also devise group activities in which the ESL student's contribution is essential to the successful completion of the task. (See next question!)