Discuss Ways to Manage Verbal and Non-verbal

Communications in a Primary ESL Classroom

VERBAL COMMUNICATION

Strategies for Successful Verbal Teacher Student Communication

State All Objectives & Instructions Clearly

•Where possible state them in positive ways: for example, a. state explicitly what students have to do for each learning

step; b. keep the language as simple as possible; c. use active verbs - eg 'look for this information', 'work in

groups of three', 'write down only the key points' etc• Don't speak too fast, and if a student tells you they didn't

understand what you said, never, ever repeat the same thing in a louder voice!

Check For Understanding

•Many students, will need to hear instructions more than once before fully understanding or being able to start a learning task. • You may need to repeat the message in different ways, using

different words. • If the students didn't understand the meaning of your words

first time around, just repeating them verbatim, may not be enough.

Check For Understanding

•Many students become frustrated simply because they don't fully understand exactly what they have to do so it's best not to assume that what is absolutely clear to you is automatically as clear to the students.

Check For Understanding•Don't simply ask, "Are there any questions?" • This is not an effective way to gauge what all your

students are thinking. •Waiting until the end of class to see what people write

in their learning log is not going to provide timely feedback. •Also, don't assume that students are understanding

because they are smiling and nodding their heads -- sometimes they are just being polite!

Give Insructions & Information in Small Bitesize 'Chunks'

• If, for example, you want to explain that a learning activity consists of 4 separate steps, with some students you will need to explain step 1, get the students to do it, than explain step 2, and so on until the activity is complete. • It's really important to give students these 'landmarks'

to guide them through the learning, a bit like going from tree to tree through a forest.

Use a Tone of Voice That Does Not Alienate Students

• It's very easy for teachers to slip into 'teacher mode' when they're talking, using a tone that doesn't sound natural to many students, or comes across as bombastic and hectoring.• Let's be clear - teachers need to speak with authority and

confidence but the tone of voice must be appropriate for communicating warmly and positively. • Getting the right 'tone' is one of the most important steps in

successful teacher student communication.

Be Careful Not to Talk for Too Long at a Stretch

• The maximum length of time to talk in one go would be 14 or 15 minutes, but for some their attention may start to wander after eight minutes, or less, assuming there are no other distractions.• A handy rule of thumb might be to think of talking for a

minute or two less than the chronological age of the class, before getting students to then do something more active, or at least without having to listen attentively to the teacher talking.

Speak Respectfully to Students

• All teachers know how hard this can be at times, when students themselves speak disrespectfully. • It is nevertheless important to do everything possible to

maintain a respectful tone, because promoting respect is one of the core principles of education, and we must, as teachers, try to take responsibility for modelling respect. • It's also true that maintaining a respectful tone gives the

teacher a better chance to remain in control.

Establish Clear Routines for Who is Allowed to Talk, and

When

•Do it respectfully and most students will understand, but make sure you do give the student the opportunity to speak at the appropriate time.• This is also a way of modelling that very often in the

classroom only one person should speak at a time, and students need to learn to wait their turn to speak.