Effective Strategies for Teaching English in the Classroom

Lesson 10: Planning for Effective English Instruction

Learning a new language in school differs significantly from other subjects. If you share a mother tongue with your pupils, you have a unique responsibility to consistently use English in the classroom.

Advantages of Shared Language

You possess distinct advantages as a teacher:

• You come from the same society as your pupils.
• You understand how their first language can support their English acquisition.

Helping Children Learn and Improve

Using the Mother Tongue

Teachers employ various methods when integrating the mother tongue into lessons:

• Initial immersion: Some teachers avoid the mother tongue entirely.
• Strategic support: Others use English primarily, providing explanations in the mother tongue only when students require additional clarity.

Even if children are slow to produce English, consistent exposure through listening is highly beneficial. One of the most effective techniques is responding to all student questions and comments in English. This demonstrates:

• That you are actively listening to them.
• That you can perform the same tasks in both languages.
• How to express their thoughts in English.
• That they should be encouraged to speak more English.

Recasting as a Learning Tool

Recasting involves repeating what children say in their mother tongue back to them in English. This is a vital step in language development, as it facilitates acquisition by providing immediate, correct models.

Rephrasing mirrors the natural interaction between caregivers and young children:

• Repeat what the child says.
• Avoid criticizing the form of the language used.
• Use correction as a positive learning tool.
• Ensure that corrections clarify the child's intended meaning rather than changing it.

Using Your Coursebook as a Resource

Coursebooks serve several functions:

• They offer a prepared set of classroom activities.
• They are often colorful and attractive to children.
• They may not always align perfectly with your specific teaching program.
• They can serve as a primary resource for your curriculum.

Planning Your Lessons

Before the Course

Before starting a new class, consider the following:

• Arrange the room to facilitate easy movement.
• Create displays that can be reused for language practice.
• Build a collection of extension activities for students who finish early.

General Lesson Preparation

For every lesson, it is useful to:

• Prepare all necessary materials.
• Inform children of the lesson objectives.
• Decide on effective pupil grouping strategies.

Specific Language Planning

Prepare the specific language you will use to:

• Greet your pupils.
• Transition at the start and end of the lesson.
• Organize classroom activities.
• Communicate with groups, pairs, or individuals.