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This article is a great follow up to the fantastic presentation on ESL students and ESL teaching we were given last week in class. It can be difficult to bridge the gap between you and a student who speaks a different language and/or comes from a different country and cultural background. This article provides you with a few practical tips and 'icebreakers' on how to overcome the language barriers. It is important to establish good rapport with your ESL students; many will not feel comfortable in your class if you cannot achieve good rapport and if your students are uncomfortable, they will probably be unable to produce their best work. Making this connection can be very difficult as many ESL students would rather distance themselves from their instructor and fellow students with whom they cannot connect with right away because of the language and cultural barrier. A good icebreaker to established rapport and gauge the level of your ESL student (s) is Two Truths and a Lie. This activity will tell you whether or not your ESL student (s) know basic English, and will open up conversations between you and your students, as well as between students, about some unexpected answers that hopefully also offer some cultural insights. Another good icebreaker that will challenge student assumptions about each other is Who Wrote This? Many students may be surprised at some of the answers, and this activity will open up the classroom to new discussions about ESL students' personal interests and how they are similar or connect with the rest of the class's interests. Establishing a good relationship with your ESL students and making them feel comfortable and safe in your classroom is half the battle; having good icebreakers will help achieve these tasks and will aid your efforts significantly in presenting yourself to your ESL students as a safe, caring teacher.