Giving clear

instructions
 Why is it important to use
instructions in English?

▣ It helps create a good

English-speaking
atmosphere.
▣ It helps learners think in
English.
▣ It helps make connections
between spoken word and
actions.
▣ It also helps build confidence
in students and teachers.
▣ It saves time! 2
CLEAR INSTRUCTIONS - Recommendations

Don’t give
Plan in material Economize
advanced / before words
Practice giving
Prepare your ideas in
instructions before giving advance and say as
the actual class, to
identify possible instructions few words as
You might lose ss’ possible.
challenges
attention

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CLEAR INSTRUCTIONS - Techniques
If you’re implementing a new activity, use 2 techniques to check
your students’ understanding of the task.

Model first Visual

(give ss an support
Write the
example) instructions on the
board too

Chunk
ICQs (separate the
(Instruction activity into different
Checking stages and give
instructions for each
Questions)
one separately )

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After you’ve given the instructions → Use Instruction Checking
Questions (ICQs)
What’s the difference between using the questions on the left versus the strategies
on the right?

True or false / Yes-No Questions

Give ss a crucial fragment of the instructions and let
your ss decide if that is or isn’t what they’re
supposed to do.
▣ So, for this activity we’ll work individually, T or
F?
Do you understand? ▣ Are we going to stand up and find a new
partner, yes or no?

Do you have any Correct the mistake

questions? Give ss a crucial fragment of the instructions with an
intentional mistake. Your ss should tell you what the
correct task is.
Is it clear? T: We’re going to write our ideas.
Ss: No, we’re going to discuss our ideas
Any doubts?
Options
Give your ss a crucial fragment of the instructions
and offer two options. Ss should choose the correct
task to complete.
T: Are we going to make one line or three lines?
Ss: Three! 5
 What’s the
problem?
▣ Read the following 3 situations and answer: What
would you suggest to help the teachers?
▣ How would you modify their instructions?
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 ▣ Read the following 3 situations and answer: What
would you suggest to help the teachers?
▣ How would you modify their instructions?

Ok, everybody, are you Ok, what I want you to Now please, sit in
ready for the next activity? do is just to get into groups and prepare a
Ok, well, to start with, I'd groups and talk poster about five things
like you to all take out a
piece of paper from your together about what you like doing. Do you
notebooks. You can tear it you did on the understand?
out, don't worry about the weekend.
edges... ...Right, then, I'd like
you to take a pencil, or a
pen, it doesn't really matter.
Actually, a marker is fine,
too. Ok, so anyway, take
your pencil or whatever and
draw a line down the
middle of the paper. To
make it easier, you can
actually, fold your paper
first and then trace the line
that is there for you. But
you don't have to if you
don't want to, it's just a
suggestion. Then...
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