Classroom Language For Teachers and Students of English

The language spoken in the lessons is English. Here are some phrases about classroom language you should know, understand, or be able to use.

Table of Contents

Classroom Language for English Students
Classroom Language For English Teachers
Classroom Language: The beginning of the lesson
Classroom Language: Simple instructions
Classroom Language: The end of the lesson
Classroom Language: Language of classroom management
Classroom Language: The language of error correction
Classroom Language: The language of spontaneous situations

Classroom Language for English Students
- Can I come to your office?
- How should I pronounce “…”?
- How do you pronounce this word?
- Would you pronounce the word “…”?
- How do you spell “…”?
- What does UK stand for?
- Would you give us an example?
- How do you spell that?
- Could you explain a little bit more about that?
- What do you mean?
- What is the difference between “a” and “b”?
- I didn’t understand today’s lesson.
- I don’t understand the homework.
- Just a minute/second/sec.
- When is the homework due?
- Excuse me, can I talk to you for a minute?
- I’m sorry I am late.
- Can I go to the restroom?
- Can I change seats?
Classroom Language For English Teachers
Classroom Language: The beginning of the lesson
1. Good morning
2. How are you?
3. Introductions
4. Time to begin
5. Waiting to start
6. Put your things away
7. Register
8. Late
Classroom Language: Simple instructions
1. Here are some common instructions which the class can easily understand:
2. A number of instructions can be used at the beginning of a session:
3. A number of instructions can be used at the end of a session:
4. Instructions can also be sequenced:
5. Comprehension language:
Classroom Language: The end of the lesson
1. Time to stop
2. Not time to stop
3. Wait a minute
4. Next time
5. Homework
6. Goodbye
7. Leaving the room
Classroom Language: Language of classroom management
Here are some phrases that can be used for classroom management:
Giving instructions
Open your books at page 52.
Come out and write it on the board.
Listen to the tape, please.
Get into groups of four.
Finish off this song at home.
Let’s sing a song.
Everybody, please.
All together now.
The whole class, please.
I want you all to join in.
Could you try the next one?
I would like you to write this down.
Would you mind switching the lights on?
It might be an idea to leave this till next time.
Who would like to read?
Which topic will your group report on?
Do you want to answer question 3?
Sequencing
First of all, today, …
Right. Now we will go on to the next exercise.
Have you finished?
For the last thing today, let’s …
Whose turn is it to read?
Which question are you on?
Next one, please.
Who hasn’t answered yet?
Let me explain what I want you to do next.
The idea of this exercise is for you to …
You have ten minutes to do this.
Your time is up.
Finish this by twenty to eleven.
Can you all see the board?
Have you found the place?
Are you all ready?
Supervision
Look this way.
Stop talking.
Listen to what … is saying.
Leave that alone now.
Be careful.
Asking questions
Where’s Bill?
Is Bill in the kitchen?
Tell me where Bill is.
What was the house like?
What do you think?
How can you tell?
Responding to questions
Yes, that’s right,
Fine.
Almost. Try again.
What about this word?
Metalanguage
What’s the Spanish for “doll”?
Explain it in your own words.
It’s spelt with a capital “J”.
Can anybody correct this sentence?
Fill in the missing words.
Mark the right alternative.
Reference
After they left the USA, the Beatles …
The church was started in the last century.
This is a picture of a typically English castle.
In the background you can see …
While we’re on the subject, …
As I said earlier, …
Let me sum up.
Affective attitudes
That’s interesting!
That really is very kind of you.
Don’t worry about it.
I was a bit disappointed with your efforts.
Social ritual
Good morning.
Cheerio now.
God bless!
Have a nice weekend.
Thanks for your help.
Happy birthday!
Merry Christmas!
Classroom Language: The language of error correction
Here are some phrases that can be used when giving feedback to students:
Very good.
That’s very good.
Well done.
Very fine.
That’s nice.
I like that.
Marvellous!
You did a great job.
Magnificent!
Terrific!
Wow!
Jolly good!
Great stuff!
Fantastic!
Right!
Yes!
Fine.
Quite right
That’s right.
That’s it.
That’s correct.
That’s quite right.
Yes, you’ve got it.
It depends.
It might be, I suppose.
In a way, perhaps.
Sort of, yes.
That’s more like it.
That’s much better.
That’s a lot better.
You’ve improved a lot.
You were almost right.
That’s almost it.
You’re halfway there.
You’ve almost got it.
You’re on the right lines.
There’s no need to rush.
There’s no hurry.
We have plenty of time
Go on. Have a try.
Have a go.
Have a guess.
Not really.
Unfortunately not.
I’m afraid that’s not quite right.
You can’t say that, I’m afraid.
You can’t use that word here.
Good try, but not quite right.
Have another try.
Not quite right. Try again.
Not exactly.
Classroom Language: The language of spontaneous situations
If we use English in spontaneous situations:
We relate the target language to the learner’s immediate environment.
We take advantage of spontaneous situations to use the target language.
We exploit contexts which are not directly linked to the syllabus (language in use).
Here are some common situations in which spontaneous English can be used:
Happy birthday!
Many returns (of the day).
“” has his/her 12th birthday today.
“” is eleven today. Let’s sing “Happy Birthday”.
Best of luck.
Good luck.
I hope you pass.
Congratulations!
Well done!
Who’s not here today?
Who isn’t here?
What’s wrong with … today?
I’m sorry (about that).
Sorry, that was my fault.
I’m terribly sorry.
Excuse me.
Could I get past please?
You’re blocking the way.
I can’t get past you.
Get out of the way, please
I hope you all have a good Christmas.
Happy New Year!
All the best for the New Year.
Happy Easter.
Hard lines!
Never mind.
Better luck next time.
Do you feel better today?
Are you better now?
Have you been ill?
What was the matter?
I’ll be back in a moment.
Carry on with the exercise while I’m away.
I’ve got to go next door for a moment.
I’m afraid I can’t speak any louder.
I seem to be losing my voice.
I have a sore throat.
I have a headache.
I’m feeling under the weather.
Do you mind if I sit down?
Classroom Phrases For English Teachers – Video