Classroom English plays a pivotal role in teaching and learning. The beginners often try to imitate certain expressions of their teachers. The teachers are their role models. A teacher possessing simple and effective ways of communication skills can boost confidence in the learners. The regular use of real-time expressions will improve the fluency of the learners. Speaking in English in the classroom encourages the students to think in English.
Using English more in one’s class will increase one’s own confidence as a teacher as well. When the teacher gives instructions, asks questions or makes comments in English, the learners will be more attentive. Generally, every class starts with greetings and ends with assigning a task, followed by saying goodbye. In between, there are some activities and for every activity, there are certain expressions in English.
Here are some possible classroom expressions [minimum] in English one should know before going to the classroom.
Classroom English Language for Teachers and Students:
✅ Greetings:
- Hi.
- Hello.
- Hello, everyone.
- Good morning.
- Good morning everyone.
- Good morning class.
- Good Afternoon everyone.
- How are you?
- How are you all?
- How are you today?
- How are things?
- How are things with you?
- How’s life?
- How are you getting on?
- Are you feeling well?
- How are you feeling, Ram?
- Are you feeling better, Ram?
- How pleasant it is!
- How pleasant the day is!
✅ Getting ready:
- Let me take attendance
- Let me take your attendance
- Let me take today’s attendance
- Who is absent today?
- Are all present?
- Why were you absent yesterday?
- What happened, Ram yesterday?
- What happened to you?
- What’s the matter with Ravi today?
- What’s wrong with you today?
- Didn’t you come yesterday?
- What’s wrong with you?
- Did you oversleep?
- Don’t let it happen again.
- Why are you late?
- Did you miss your bus?
- Be early tomorrow.
- Start early tomorrow.
- Where have you been?
- O.K. Sit right.
✅ Giving instructions:
- Are you ready?
- Are you ready, everybody?
- Ready?
- Everybody?
- Pay attention.
- Pay attention, everybody.
- Take your textbooks.
- Take your notebooks.
- Take your pens.
- Follow my instructions.
- Follow me carefully.
- Follow me attentively.
- Listen.
- Listen to me.
- Listen to the audio.
- We have five minutes for this.
- Just five minutes for this activity.
- We have a few minutes to finish this.
- Repeat after me.
- Again, please.
- You repeat.
- Ram, you repeat.
- Who’s next?
- Yes, do it.
- Now, turn to page
- Turn to page
- Look at the activity
- Do like this
- Not like that
✅ Comprehending:
- Are you O.K.?
- Are you O.K., now?
- O.K?
- Is it O.K?
- Is this O.K?
- Are you with me?
- Do you follow me?
- Do you get it?
- Do you follow?
- Do you all follow?
- Ram, do you follow?
- Ram, do you get it?
- What do you say?
- What do you say, Ram?
- Raise your hand.
- Say it again.
- Say it again, please.
- One more time.
- One more time, please.
- A full sentence, please.
- Like this?
- Do you like this?
- Have you got it?
- Could you catch me?
- What’s this about?
- Any questions?
- Who knows the answer?
- Try to answer.
- Answer by yourself.
- Say aloud.
- Speak aloud.
- Louder, please
✅ Sequencing:
- Right.
- First….
- First of all….
- First, today…
- After …
- After that….
- Then …
- Next …
- Go on to the next one.
- Next exercise.
- Next activity.
- Next one.
- Next one, please.
- Have you finished?
- How you all finished?
- Yes, let’s see.
- Whose turn is it?
- Whose turn is it to read?
- Read aloud.
- Who hasn’t answered?
- Your time is up.
- Finish it quickly.
- Are you all ready?
- Time’s up.
- Let me explain
✅ Supervision:
- Who’s that?
- Who’s talking?
- Who’s making a noise?
- Be careful.
- Be attentive.
- Attention, please.
- Stop talking.
- Look this way.
- Look.
- Look at me.
- Look at the background.
- Listen.
- Listen to what he is saying.
- Listen to her.
- What’s going on there.
- Leave that issue.
- Leave it.
- Pay attention.
- Listen to me.
- Any problem?
- What’s that?
- Be quiet..
✅ Encouragement:
- Good..
- That’s Good.
- Interesting.
- That’s interesting.
- Right.
- Don’t worry.
- I am sure you will do better.
- Sure, you will do better next time.
- I know, you can.
- Yes, no hesitation.
- Have a go.
- Have another time.
- Try again.
- Try again, please.
- Practice more.
- Practice makes a man perfect.
- Well done.
- Excellent.
- Great.
- That’s great.
- That’s better.
- That’s much better.
- You’re improving.
- You’re really improving.
- O.K. little harder.
- Work harder.
- Stop making excuses.
- No excuses.
- No pretension.
- Speak English
✅ Giving feedback:
- Correct.
- Right.
- Nice.
- Good.
- Very good.
- That’s good.
- That’s right.
- That’s very good.
- Great.
- Great job.
- That’s great.
- Absolutely.
- Yes, you are right.
- You’re quite right.
- Very fine.
- Fantastic.
- Marvellous.
- Wow.
- Terrific.
- That’s nice.
- Superb.
- Damn right.
- That’s correct.
- You did a great job.
- Yes, you’ve got it.
- You’ve improved a lot.
- Have a guess.
- That’s almost it.
- You are halfway.
- You’ve almost got it.
- You were almost right.
- Unfortunately, not.
- Have another try.
- You can’t use that word here.
✅ Time to finish:
- Yes, let’s stop now.
- Yes, let’s finish.
- It’s time to finish
- It’s time to stop.
- It’s almost time to stop.
- Have you finished?
- Finished?
- Stop now.
- Any questions?
- Any doubts?
- Any more doubts?
- Any more questions?
- It’s nearly time to go.
- It’s almost time to finish.
- We’ve run out of time.
- Collect your work.
- Collect your work, please.
- Pack up your books.
- Are your desks tidy?
- One minute to finish that activity.
- Look at the time.
- What time is it now?
- Sit quietly.
- The next class will be waiting.
- We shall continue this class tomorrow.
- Don’t forget to bring your books tomorrow.
- We will have to finish it tomorrow.
- That’s all for today.
- Don’t become late.
- Don’t be late.
- Stay where you are.
- Just a moment, please.
✅ Homework:
- Do your homework.
- Remember your homework.
- Don’t forget to do it.
- Finish this exercise.
- This is your homework.
- Do the next exercise.
- I will check it tomorrow.
- Do the exercise…. on page…
- There’s no homework, now.
- I shall give the homework, in the afternoon.
- I will give you the homework later.
- We have another class in the afternoon.
- Do the homework by yourself.
- Don’t copy others’ homework.
- Finish the homework.
- Finish your homework.
✅ Goodbye:
- Bye, children.
- Bye bye.
- Bye, everyone.
- Goodbye, everyone.
- See you.
- See you again.
- See you tomorrow.
- See you tomorrow afternoon.
- See you afternoon.
- See you again on Monday.
- See you after the break.
- See you after the interval.
- Meet you again.
- Meet you later.
- Meet you tomorrow.
- See you later.
- Enjoy your holiday.
- Have a good holiday.
- See you next week.
Credits: L N Kolli