- We'll do the rest of this chapter next time.
- We'll finish this exercise next lesson.
- We've run out of time, so we'll continue next lesson.
- We'll continue this chapter next Monday.
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".
| - I hope you all have a good Christmas.
- Happy New Year!
- All the best for the New Year.
- Happy Easter.
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- Best of luck.
- Good luck.
- I hope you pass.
- Congratulations!
- Well done!
| - Hard lines!
- Never mind.
- Better luck next time.
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- Who's not here today?
- Who isn't here?
- What's wrong with... today?
| - Do you feel better today?
- Are you better now?
- Have you been ill?
- What was the matter?
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- I'm sorry (about that).
- Sorry, that was my fault.
- I'm terribly sorry.
| - Excuse me for a moment.
- 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.
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- 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'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?
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Classroom Language: The language of classroom management
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Here are some common situations in which spontaneous English can be used:
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- Make groups of four.
- Move your desks into groups of four people.
- Turn your desks around.
- Make a horseshoe shape with your desks.
- Make a circle with your desks.
- Make a line of desks facing each other.
- Make groups of four desks facing each other.
- Sit back to back.
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- Work together with your friend.
- Find a partner.
- Work in pairs/threes/fours/fives.
- Work in groups of two/three/four.
- I want you to form groups.
- Form groups of three.
- Here are some tasks for you to work on in groups of four.
| - There are too many in this group.
- Can you join the other group?
- Only three people in each group.
- I asked for four people to a group.
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- Everybody work individually.
- Work by yourselves.
- Work independently.
- Ask your neighbour for help.
- Work on the task together.
| - Ask other people in the group.
- Ask others in the class.
- Interview someone else.
- Ask everyone in the class.
- Stand up and find another partner.
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- Have you finished?
- Do the next activity.
- Move on to the next activity.
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Classroom Language: Language of classroom management
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Here are some phrases that can be used for classroom management:
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| Organization
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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?
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Supervision
- Look this way.
- Stop talking.
- Listen to what... is saying.
- Leave that alone now.
- Be careful.
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| Interrogation
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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?
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| Explanation
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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.
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| Interaction
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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!
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Classroom Language: The language of error correction
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Here are some phrases that can be used when giving feedback to students:
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| · 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.
- You've got the idea.
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| · 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.
| · 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.
| - 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.
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| · There's nothing wrong with your answer.
· What you said was perfectly all right.
· You didn't make a single mistake.
· That's exactly the point.
· That's just what I was looking for.
| - Don't worry about your pronunciation.
- Don't worry about your spelling.
- Don't worry, it'll improve.
- Maybe this will help you.
- Do you want a clue (hint)?
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| · You have good pronunciation.
· Your pronunciation is very good.
· You are communicating well.
· You speak very fluently.
· You have made a lot of progress.
| - You still have some trouble with pronunciation.
- You need more practice with these words.
- You'll have to spend some time practising this.
- You're getting better at it all the time.
- You've improved no end.
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