CLASSROOM LANGUAGE

In a classroom setting, effective use of language is essential for both teachers and students. Teachers
need to be able to communicate their lessons clearly and effectively, while students need to have the
necessary language skills to participate in class, ask questions, and express themselves.

• Learning and understanding classroom language is essential an effective communication in the

classroom.

• Many expressions and phrases used in classroom are also frequently used in everyday life.

• Classroom language can be broken up into lessons focusing on requests, imperatives, orders,
and complaints.

Classroom Language: The beginning of the lesson

2. How are you?

1. Good morning • How are you today?
• Good morning, everybody. • How are you getting on?
• Good afternoon, everybody. • How’s life?
• Hello, everyone. • How are things with you?
• Hello there, John. • Are you feeling better today, David?

3. Introductions 4. Time to begin

• My name is Mr/Mrs/Ms Kim. I’m your • Let’s begin our lesson now.
new English teacher. • Is everybody ready to start?
• I’ll be teaching you English this year. • I hope you are all ready for your English
• I’ve got five lessons with you each week. lesson.
• I think we can start now.
• Now we can get down to work.
5. Waiting to start 6. Put your things away
• I’m waiting for you to be quiet. • Close your books.
• We won’t start until everyone is quiet. • Put your books away.
• Stop talking and be quiet. • Pack your things away.
• Settle down now so we can start.
7. Register/Attendance 8. Late: You´re late
• Who is absent today? • Where have you been?
• Who isn’t here today? • We started ten minutes ago. What have
• What’s the matter with Jim today? you been doing?
• What’s wrong with Jim today? • Did you miss your bus?
• Why were you absent last Friday? • Did you oversleep?
• Don’t let it happen again.
Classroom Language: Simple instructions

1. Here are some common instructions which 2. A number of instructions can be used at the
the class can easily understand: beginning of a session:
• Come in. • Pay attention, everybody.
• Go out. • You need pencils/rulers.
• Stand up. • We’ll learn how to …
• Sit down. • Are you ready?
• Come to the front of the class. • Open your books at page…
• Stand by your desks. • Turn to page …
• Put your hands up. • Look at activity five.
• Listen to this tape.
• Repeat after me.
• Again, please.
• Everybody …
• You have five minutes to do this.
• Who’s next?
• Like this, not like that.
3. A number of instructions can be used at the 4. Instructions can also be sequenced:
end of a session: • First
• It’s time to finish. • Next
• Have you finished? • After that
• Let’s stop now. • Then
• Stop now. • Finally
• Let’s check the answers.
• Any questions?
• Collect your work please.
• Pack up your books.
• Are your desks tidy (clean)?
• Don’t forget to bring your … tomorrow.
5. Comprehension language: 5. Homework
• Are you ready? • This is your homework for tonight.
• Are you with me? • Do exercise 10 on page 23 for your
• Are you OK? homework.
• OK so far? • Prepare the next chapter for Monday.
• Do you get it? • There is no homework today.
• Do you understand? • Remember your homework.
• Do you follow me? • Take a worksheet as you leave.
• What did you say?
• One more time, please.
• Say it again, please.
• I don’t understand.
• I don’t get it.
• Like this?
• Is this OK?

6. Goodbye 7. Students Requests:

• Goodbye, everyone. • Excuse me teacher.
 • See you again next Wednesday.
• See you tomorrow afternoon.
• See you in room 7 after the break.
• Have a good holiday.
• Enjoy your vacation.
• May I go out? (to the bathroom)
• Would you repeat that please?
• I´m sorry, I don´t understand.
• I´m sorry, I didn´t understand.
• I´m sorry, I didn´t catch that.
• I´m sorry, I didn´t got it.
• Can you explain that more?
• Excuse me, I have a question.
•

Here is a list of useful classroom language for students in English.

1. Asking for clarification: Can you repeat that?, Can you explain that more?, I’m sorry, I don’t
understand.

2. Participating in discussions: I have a question, Can I share my thoughts?, That’s a good point,
What do you think?

3. Giving examples: For instance, For example, Such as, Like.

4. Making comparisons: Just like, Similar to, Unlike, On the other hand.

5. Expressing uncertainty: I’m not sure, I don’t know, I don’t understand, Can you help me?

6. Summarizing information: In short, To summarize, To put it briefly, In other words.

7. Expressing agreement/disagreement: I agree, I disagree, I concur, I don’t agree.

8. Asking for help: Can you help me?, I need some assistance, Can you give me a hand?

9. Responding to questions: Yes, No, Of course, Sure.

10. Expressing appreciation: Thank you, That’s very kind of you, I appreciate your help, That’s
helpful.