Classroom Management

Handout 3: Classroom Language

Read sentences a-g. Tick five sentences that offer good advice. Cross out the other two
sentences. Then Compare your answers with a partner.

a. Pronounce each word slowly and deliberately.

b. Use gestures, pictures and other things that will support what you are saying to
make it easier to understand.
c. Speak with natural rhythm and intonation.
d. Miss out small words (articles, prepositions, auxiliary verbs and so on) so that
learners can focus on the 'content' words and understand the message.
e. Speak at a natural speed, but pause slightly longer after each 'chunk', if necessary.
f. Try to avoid' difficult' vocabulary (for example, very idiomatic language).
g. Try to avoid complex grammar patterns.

Read the descriptions. Which teacher is easier to understand? Why?

Both teachers are giving instructions for the same activity to an intermediate class

Teacher 1:
OK, so if you wouldn't mind, open your books and look at the pictures about what the man
does now and what he used to do – OK yeah, they're on page 87 - yeah you can find them in
just a sec, doesn't really matter now - OK- they're just some ideas for you to think about. OK,
and then what I want you to do is, you're going to write some sentences, about four, maybe a
few more - don't worry if you find it difficult, just have a go anyway. So, write some
sentences about things you used to do, but you don't do now. OK? And when you've done
that I want you to compare them with your partner - or you can work in threes if you'd rather
- I don't think it matters too much - OK, so do you understand all that? - and then I want you
to mingle around and then find someone that you have something in common with. Have you
got that? All right, so let's start - I would like you to write some sentences.

Teacher 2:
So look at these pictures. [Teacher holds up the book and points to the pictures.] You can use
these for ideas, if you want. And then write some sentences about things you used to do, but
you don't do now. Write four sentences, please.
[Learners write some sentences.]
OK, let me stop you there - don't worry if you've only written three. Now compare your
sentences with a
partner.
[Teacher indicates who should work with who and then learners compare.]
OK- good - now, I want you to stand up - talk to as many people as you can and find people
that used to
do the same things as you. OK? So, for this do you speak or write? [Learner answers 'speak']
OK, and do you
speak to one person or lots of people? [Learner answers: ‘Iots’] OK, so, stand up, please.
[Learners stand up and mingle.

Britishey is a centre for Cambridge Assessment English, which is part of Cambridge University.