Classroom language can be an invaluable way of promoting English as real communication, student involvement in the lesson, and active language learning skills. According to Doff, Teach English: A training course for teachers (1988),
most of the language we need for organizing the class consists of simple expressions which can be used again and again.
Getting everyone’s attention
- Listen to me, please
- Be quiet/Quiet down, please
- Silent, please
- Can I have your attention, please?
- Could you all listen to me, please?
- Would you pay attention, please?
- Anto, are you with us?
Reviewing information and previous knowledge
- Who can remember what we were talking about at the end of last lesson?
- Does anyone remember ................?
- Who can tell me ................?
- Could you tell me what you remember from our last lesson?
- Who would like to get extra marks today?
Setting up an activity
- I’d like you to get into pairs for this activity
- Please, get into pairs / groups of four
- Can you four team up?
- I want you to share a photocopy and work together
- What I want you to do is to ................
- First, let’s go over the homework / the explanation on page 25 together
- Those of you that have finished exercise 5 can move on /go on to exercise 6 and 7.
- When you finish you can ................
- I want you to finish the exercises on page 16 now / at home
- Go on / get on /continue with your work
- Don't write anything down, yet. Just listen carefully.
- Swap/exchange papers with your neighbor.
Read More: Classroom Language: Starting The Class
Applying discipline
- Don't be rude.
- Don't disturb your neighbour.
- Don't shout, I can hear you.
- Stop that nonsense.
- Stop making excuses.
- Stop being silly/childish.
- Don't interrupt when somebody else is talking.
- I'm not going to accept work like this.
- I'm not going to accept behaviour like this.
- I am not going to say this again.
- Just sit down and be quiet.
- Do your own work. Don't copy. No cheating.
- I want you to stay behind after the lesson.
- Come and sit at the front, Sony.
- We will all have to wait until you're ready.
- I shall have to speak to your parents on parents' day.
Giving out / Collecting worksheets
- Do you mind collecting the compositions for me, please?
- Santi, would you take in / get/collect everyone’s writings/essays for me, please?
- Dody, can you hand out / give out / distribute these copies, please?
- Take one and pass them on
- Take one between the two of you/for the two of you
- Would you pass the dictionaries / exams to the front / the back, please?
Checking understanding
- Do you understand?
- Are you with me?
- OK so far?
- Do you get it?
- Do you have any questions?
- Let's check the answers.
- If you don't understand, ask me.
Encouraging students and correcting errors
- That's very good
- Well done
- Great job!
- That's correct
- Excellent
- Yes, you've got it
- You've got the idea
- That’s correct
- I'm really impressed. I knew you could do it!
- You need more practice with this
- You'll have to spend some more time with this
- Don't worry, I'm sure you'll do better next time.
- Don't pretend you can't speak English, I know you can.
- Practise makes perfect.
- Your marks are getting better all the time.
- Your marks will get better if you practice more.
- Good, you're getting better
- Your answer is very good/almost right
- Ok, that’s not the right answer, but let me help you with it
- Let me explain again
- That' much better! You're really improving.
- Not exactly, have another try/try again
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