CLASSROOM ENGLISH PHRASES

1. Good morning 5. Waiting to start

• Good morning, everybody. • I'm waiting for you to be quiet.
• Good afternoon, everybody. • We won't start until everyone is quiet.
• Hello, everyone. • Stop talking and be quiet.
• Hello there, ------------. • Settle down now so we can start.
2. How are you? 6. Put your things away
• How are you today? • Close your books.
• How are you getting on? • Put your books away.
• How's life? • Pack your things away.
• How are things with you? 7. Register
• Are you feeling better today, -------? • Who is absent today?.
3. Introductions • Who isn't here today?
• My name is Mr/Mrs/ I'm your • What's the matter with …… today?
new teacher. • What's wrong with -------today?
• I'll be teaching you this year. • Why were you absent last Friday,
• I've got five lessons with you each ………..?
week. 8. Late
4. Time to begin • Where have you been?
• Let's begin our lesson now. • We started ten minutes ago. What have
• Is everybody ready to start? you been doing?.
• I hope you are all ready for your English • Did you miss your bus?
lesson. • Did you oversleep?
• I think we can start now. • Don't let it happen again.
• Now we can get down to work.
Classroom Language: Simple instructions
Here are some common instructions which the class can easily understand:
• Come in. • Stand by your desks.
• Go out. • Put your hands up.
• Stand up. • Put your hands down.
• Sit down. • Hold your books/pens up.
• Come to the front of the class. • Show me your pencil.
A number of instructions can be used at the beginning of a session, and as the semester
continues:
• Pay attention, everybody. • Listen to this tape.
• You need pencils/rulers. • Repeat after me.
• We'll learn how to ... • Again, please.
• Are you ready? • Everybody ...
• Open your books at page ... • you have five minutes to do this.
• Turn to page ... • Who's next?
• Look at acitivity five. • Like this, not like that.
A number of instructions can be used at the end of a session, and as the semester continues:
• It's time to finish. • Any questions?
• Have you finsihed? • Collect your work please.
• Let's stop now. • Pack up your books.
• Stop now. • Are your desks tidy?
• Let's check the answers. • Don't forget to bring your ... tomorrow.
Instructions can also be sequenced:
• First • After that • Finally
• Next • Then
Comprehension language:
• Are you ready? • Do you understand? • I don't understand.
• Are you with me? • Do you follow me? • I don't get it.
• Are you OK? • What did you say? • Like this?
• OK so far? • One more time, please. • Is this OK?
• Do you get it? • Say it again, please.

Classroom Language: The end of the lesson

1. Time to stop • We'll do the rest of this chapter next time.
• It's almost time to stop. • We'll finish this exercise next lesson.
• I'm afraid it's time to finish now. • We've run out of time, so we'll continue
• We'll have to stop here. next lesson.
• There's the bell. It's time to stop. • We'll continue this chapter next Monday.
• That's all for today. You can go now. 5. Homework
2. Not time to stop. • This is your homework for tonight.
• The bell hasn't gone yet. • Do exercise 10 on page 23 for your
• There are still two minutes to go. homework.
• We still have a couple ofminutes left. • Prepare the next chapter for Monday.
• The lesson doesn't finish till five past. • There is no homework tonight.
• Your watch must be fast. • Remember your homework.
• We seem to have finished early. • Take a worksheet as you leave.
• We have an extra five minutes. 6. Goodbye
• Sit quietly until the bell goes. • Goodbye, everyone.
3. Wait a minute • See you again next Wednesday.
• Hang on a moment. • See you tomorrow afternoon.
• Just hold on a moment. • See you in room 7 after the break.
• Stay where you are for a moment. • Have a good holiday.
• Just a moment, please. • Enjoy your vacation..
• One more thing before you go. 7. Leaving the room
• Back to your places. • Get into a queue.
4. Next time • Form a queue and wait for the bell.
• Everybody outside! • try not to make any noise as you leave.
• All of you, get outside now! • Be quiet as you leave. Other classes are
• Hurry up and get out! still working.

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:
• I hope you all have a good eid/ holidays • I'm sorry (about that).
• Happy New Year! • Sorry, that was my fault.
• All the best for the New Year. • I'm terribly sorry.
• Best of luck. • Excuse me for a moment.
• Good luck. • I'll be back in a moment.
• I hope you pass. • Carry on with the exercise while I'm away.
• Congratulations! • I've got to go next door for a moment.
• Well done! • Excuse me.
• Hard lines! • Could I get past please?
• Never mind. • You're blocking the way.
• Better luck next time.. • I can't get past you.
• Who's not here today? • Get out of the way, please.
• Who isn't here? • I'm afraid I can't speak any louder.
• What's wrong with ... today? • I seem to be losing my voice.
• Do you feel better today? • I have a sore throat.
• Are you better now? • I have a headache.
• Have you been ill? • I'm feeling under the weather.
• What was the matter? • Do you mind if I sit down?
Classroom Language, The language of classroom management
Here are some common situations in which spontaneous English can be used:
• Make groups of four. • There are too many in this group.
• Move your desks into groups of four • Can you join the other group?
people. • Only three people in each group.
• Turn your desks around. • I asked for four people to a group.
• Make a horseshoe shape with your desks. • Everybody work individually
• Make a circle with your desks. • Work by yourselves.
• Make a line of desks facing each other. • Work independently.
• Make groups of four desks facing each • Ask your neighbor for help.
other. • Work on the task together.
• Sit back to back. • Ask other people in the group
• Work together with your friend • Ask others in the class.
• Find a partner • Interview someone else.
• Work in pairs/threes/fours/fives. • Ask everyone in the class.
• Work in groups of two/three/four. • Stand up and find another partner.
• I want you to form groups. • Have you finished?
• Form groups of three • Do the next activity.
• Here are some tasks for you to work • Move on to the next activity.
on in groups of four.
Organization
 Giving instructions
• Open your books at page 52 • I want you all to join in
• Come out and write it on the board • Could you try the next one?
• Listen to the tape, please • I would like you to write this down.
• Get into groups of four • Would you mind switching the lights on?
• Finish off this song at home • It might be an idea to leave this till next
• Let's sing a song. time.
• Everybody, please. • Who would like to read?
• All together now. • Which topic will your group report on?
• The whole class, please. • Do you want to answer question 3?
Sequencing
• First of all, today, ... • You have ten minutes to do this.
• Right. Now we will go on to the next • Your time is up.
exercise. • Finish this by twenty to eleven.
• Have you finished? • Can you all see the board?
• For the last thing today, let's ... • Have you found the place?
• Whose turn is it to read? • Are you all ready?
• Which question are you on? Supervision
• Next one, please. • Look this way.
• Who hasn't answered yet? • Stop talking.
• Let me explain what I want you to do • Listen to what ... is saying.
next. • Leave that alone now.
• The idea of this exercise is for you to ... • Be careful.
Interrogation
Asking questions
• Where's ----------? • What was the house like?
• Is -------- in the kitchen? • What do you think?
• Tell me where ------------ is. • How can you tell?
Responding to questions
• Yes, that's right • Almost. Try again.
• Fine. • What about this word?
Explanation
Meta language
• Explain it in your own words. • Fill in the missing words.
• It's spelt with a capital "J". • Mark the right alternative.
• Can anybody correct this sentence?
Reference
• After they left the USA, the Beatles ... • In the background you can see ...
• The was started in the last • While we're on the subject, ...
century. • As I said earlier, ...
• This is a picture of a typically English • Let me sum up.
castle.
Interaction
Affective attitudes
• That's interesting! • Don't worry about it.
• That really is very kind of you. • I was a bit disappointed with your efforts.
Social ritual
• Good morning. • Have a nice weekend.
• Cheerio now. • Thanks for your help
• God bless! • Happy birthday!
• Merry Christmas!
Classroom Language, The language of error correction
Here are some phrases that can be used when giving feedback to students:
• Very good • Have another try
• That's very good • Not quite right. Try again.
• You did a great job. • Not exactly
• Magnificent • You were almost right.
• Right • That's almost it
• Yes • You're halfway there
• Well done • You've almost got it
• Very fine • You're on the right
• That's nice lines
• I like that • There's no need to rush
• Marvellous • There's no hurry
• Terrific • We have plenty of time
• Wow! • Go on. Have a try
• Jolly good • Have a go
• Great stuff • Have a guess
• Fantastic • There's nothing wrong with your
• Fine answer.
• Quite right • What you said was perfectly all right.
• That's right. • You didn't make a single mistake.
• That's it. • That's exactly the point.
• That's correct • That's just what I was looking for.
• That's quite right. • Don't worry about your pronunciation.
• Yes, you've got it. • Don't worry about your spelling.
• You've got the idea. • Don't worry, it'll improve
• It depends • Maybe this will help you
• It might be, I suppose • Do you want a clue (hint)?
• In a way, perhaps • You have good pronunciation.
• Sort of , yes. • Your pronunciation is very good.
• That's more like it • You are communicating well.
• That's much better • You speak very fluently.
• That's a lot better • You have made a lot of progress.
• You've improved a lot • You still have some trouble with
• Not really pronuncation.
• Unfortunately not • You need more practice with these words.
• I'm afraid that's not quite • You'll have to spend some time practising
right this.
• You can't say that, I'm afraid • You're getting better at it all the time.
• you can't use that word here • You've improved no end.
• Good try, but not quite right

Add more words.

Are the statements right or wrong?
Ask questions.
Can I go to the toilet?
Can I help?
Can I open the window, please?
Can I say it in (German ...)?
Check your answers.
Choose two questions.
Collect information about...
Colour the picture.
Compare your words with your partner.
Complete the sentences with words from the
text.
Complete the text.
Copy the chart.
Copy the table into your folder.
Correct the mistakes.
Correct the wrong sentences.
Divide the text into five parts.
Do you agree with ...
Draw a room.
Explain...
Fill in the right words.
Find a partner.
Find arguments.
Find the questions to the answers.
Finish the story.
Give good reasons for your opinions.
Guess...
How might the story go on?
Imagine...
Listen to the CD.
Look at the pictures.
Take notes.
Make sentences.
Make up more conversations with a partner.
Match the sentence parts.
Match the sentences to the questions.
Move your counter.
Open your textbook at page 25. (workbook,
folder, diary)
Put in the right verbs.
Put the sentences in the right order.
Put the verbs in the right groups.
Read out loud.
Remember...
Sorry, I haven't got my homework.
Sorry?
Suppose...
Swap your folder with your partner.
Talk about pets.
Talk to your partner.
Tell your form.
Throw the dice.
Use ...
What is the story about?
What lines from the text go with the pictures?
What's this in English?
Write a story.
Write about Peter.
Write the sentences in the right order.