Classroom Language

16th June 2011

By Penny Black
Lundu Mentor
 Children & Language
Acquisition
When children repeat set phrases it does not
necessarily mean language acquisition is taking
place.
But they are:
• getting used to saying English sounds
• practising the intonation pattern
• gaining confidence, especially if you praise them
or show them approval in other ways.

(p.43 English for Primary Teachers)

 Children & Language
Acquisition
Remember
• When children are learning their first language they hear
phrases and understand the general meaning before
they understand individual words.
• They hear connected sounds before they separate them
into individual words.
• Only written language is divided into words and
sentences
• Young learners who cannot read hear a flow of sound.
• They hear intonation patterns, and sounds or words that
are stressed. These are the sounds they will say first.

(p.43 English for Primary Teachers)

 Classroom Management

Conditions for learning:

• Positive student/teacher relationship

• Motivating learning materials
• Students actively participating
• Students productively engaged
 Classroom Management

Creating a positive learning environment:

• Rules & routines

• Getting and maintaining attention
• Instructions
• Reward systems
 Functions & Phrases

Why might teachers not use English in the classroom?

• Lack of confidence
• Not knowing the right words
• Not having enough time – quicker to speak in L1
• Easier to manage large class in L1
• Fear of giving the wrong pronunciation
• Fear of a making a mistake
• The learners may not understand
 Basic Classroom Language

Make ‘classroom Language’ part of the ‘classroom’ by

using and displaying simple phrases that the students
will say or hear regularly.

May I go to the toilet please?

 K.I.S.S.

– Make instructions short and concise

– Don’t give too many instructions at once
– Use gestures to reinforce points
– Never ask, “Do you understand?”
– Instead, CHECK understanding: ask Ss to tell you
what they have to do
 Role Models

How many teachers here have English as their first

language?
Second?
Third?
Fourth?

As a multilingual speaker of English you are the best role

model that your students have of how to use English.
Ensure you allow them the opportunity to see what they too
can achieve.
 Thank you for your time.

Please just 2 more minutes to help me fill in the evaluation

forms.

Have a safe journey home.