Classroom English Expressions

prepared by Michael Dragsten

Yale Foreign Language Academy, Seogwipo, S. Korea

Synopsis: The following is a list of classroom English expressions to be used in an EFL

setting. The purpose of learning these expressions is threefold: (1) to understand many of
the instructor’s common commands, directions, questions, and requests in English, (2) to
encourage the use of situational English, and (3) to aid in classroom management.
Furthermore, the expressions could serve as a springboard for various teaching activities
such as involving classroom signs, flashcards, games, quizzes, dictation, matching, and
Q & A.

Classroom English

Commands

• Respect others.

• Pay attention.

• Participate.

• Bring your books, notebooks, and pencils to class.

• Get out your books, notebooks, and pencils.

• Put that away.

• Raise your hand.

• Don't shout.

• Don't talk/chat.

• Don't start.

• Don't cheat.

• Don't do it.

• Open your book.

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• Close your book.

• Put your pencil down.

• Continue.

Questions

• Did you do your homework?

—Yes, I did. / No, I didn't.

• Do you understand?
—Yes, I understand. / No, I don't understand.

• Do you have your book?

—Yes, I have my book. / No, I don't have my book.

• What page are you on?

—We're on page ___.

• Are you ready?

—Yes, I am. / No, I'm not.

• Are you finished?

• What did you say?

—I said, "_____________."

• May I ask you a question?

—Yes, you may. / No, you may not.

• Do you have a question?

—Yes, I have a question. / No, I don't have a question.

• What is the answer to question number __?

• Is this the right answer?

—Yes, it's the right answer. / No, it's the wrong answer.

• What do you think?

• What is this about?

• Can you guess?

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• What happened?

• Can you help me?

• Can I help him/her?

• Could you repeat that, please?

• How do you say this in English?

• What should I do?

• How do I do this?

• Is this correct?

• Is it okay?

• What does this mean?

• What is our homework?

• Do we have a test?

• When is our test?

• How many points do you have?

• Teacher, can we do this?

• May I borrow your pencil?

—Yes, you may. / No, you may not.

• May I sit next to _____?

• May I go to the bathroom?

• May I get a drink of water?

• May I leave now?

Student Responses

• Sorry, I'm late.

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• Sorry, I couldn't do my homework.

• I forgot.

• I don't remember.

• This is easy/difficult.

• This is fun/boring.

• I like/don't like this story.

• Let's do this now/later.

• Teacher, I'm sick.

• I have a headache.

• Teacher, please slow down/hurry up.

• Teacher, I can't see.

• I can't hear you.

• I don't understand.

• Please explain.

Directions

• Listen to the directions.

• Repeat after me.

• Say the question.

• Answer the question.

• Work together.

• Work alone.

• Do it now.
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• Check now.

• Fix the answers.

• Everybody, read together.

• Each student reads 2 sentences.

• Copy this.

• Take notes.

• Draw a picture.

• Make a sentence.

• Write the English sentence and draw a picture.

• Read the question and answer in English.

• Choose an answer and fill in the blanks.

• Draw a line and match.

• Circle the answer.

• Underline this word/sentence.

• Count the points.

Requests

• Please say it again.

• Please give us an example.

• Please speak more slowly/faster.

• Please speak louder/softly.

• Please speak in English.

• Please write neatly.

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• Please wait.

• Please help the other students.

• Please go downstairs and make a copy.

• Please share the book.

• Please change seats.

• Please make the classroom neat.

• Please open/close the door.

• Please turn on/turn off the light.

Miscellaneous

• Let's review.

• Pair work.

• Role-play.

• Dictation.

• Homework: listen and read, sign.

• Write this ___ time(s).

• Do up to page ___.

• Find the words in the dictionary.

• Look at the sentence model and make a sentence.

• Preview this.

• Memorize this.

• Finish this.