CELTA
Drilling
…but remember...
...the dos and don’ts of drilling
• Model the language orally and let
the students copy you or a
cassette
• Use natural rhythm, pace, stress
and intonation
• Drill new vocabulary, new
structures or lines from dialogues,
• Make sure meaning is clear
• Have a clear learning aim for
drilling, making sure it practices
the target language
• Keep it brisk and interesting
• Make sure you correct students
errors and give students the
opportunity to get it right
• Be prepared for drilling – plan
what you want to drill. Anticipate
problems with form and
pronunciation and consider how
drilling is the solution for those
problems
• Don’t speak along with the students
• Don’t make students drill from
written models
• Don’t model language slowly or
unnaturally
• Drill answers to reading/listening
skills tasks
• Drill reading texts
• Don’t drill instructions
• Don’t make students parrot
something they don’t understand
• Don’t drill if you don’t see the point
in it.
• Don’t drill half-heartedly. students
will copy you.
• Don’t over-correct, but there is no
point in drilling if you accept sloppy
or incorrect responses
• Don’t over drill or drill for the sake
of it.