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When it comes to giving instructions to EFL/ESL students, especially those with a lower level, the potential for misunderstanding and frustration is enormous. When I first started English teaching, I really struggled to get my point across. But I learned there are five things you can do to make the situation a whole lot easier.
When giving instructions to an EFL/ESL class, take it one step at a time to avoid overwhelming students. Use physical gestures and a consistent choice of words. Repeat the instruction several times and check your students' understanding through observation and careful questioning.
An expert teacher can give clear instructions with ease. Of course, if you're reading this, you probably aren't at that point yet, but if you apply the tips in this article, you'll be well on your way.

1. Use physical gestures

This is hands down the most powerful way of communicating when there's a language barrier.

Some people do this naturally. We all know a person who uses their hands, their head, and even their whole body to express the meaning behind their words.

If you're one of these people, great. But if you're like me, and physical gestures don't come naturally, it's something you need to focus on.

When you're speaking, think about a gesture to best express the action you want your students to take. Let's take the example:

"Write your name on the paper, fold the paper in half and pass it to the person to your left."

For "write your name on the paper", you could mime writing with a pen. Or you could even get a piece of paper yourself and write your own name. The same goes for folding the paper in half. Props are great.

"Pass it to the person to your left" is a little trickier. You can mime passing the paper, but you'll have to be a bit more creative when gesturing the idea of "left". Maybe face the same direction as your students and hold up your left hand, then mime passing the paper in that direction.

Using fingers to indicate steps in a process is surprisingly powerful, too. They provide visual hooks for hanging information and allow students to organise their thoughts.

Not only do gestures help transmit a message, but they also direct students' attention. When there's something dynamic to look at, students focus on it. It's hard not to. But if you're standing motionless at the front, a person walking past the window, or a fly buzzing in the corner will draw their focus away from you.

This isn't to say you need to be constantly moving. In fact, too many physical actions can be confusing and, at times, ridiculous. Be deliberate and precise with your gestures.

For more on the power of using gestures, and implementing them when learning vocab, read my article How to Use Gestures to Embed Vocab in EFL/ESL + 2 Games.

2. Repeat as necessary

Probably the most obvious tip on this list. Repeat the instructions.

There are two reasons to do this.

1. It helps students who didn't understand the first time and allows the processing of complex information.

2. It embeds the words (and gestures) in the minds of the students, so when you say the instructions in the future, they're more familiar with the language used.

How many times should you repeat the instructions? The answer to this depends on if your students need to hear them again. In step 4, we'll look at how to check they understand.

I'd always repeat the instructions at least twice, then see how things are going. If it gets to four or five times and students still don't get it, switch things up and try a different approach.

3. Keep your choice of words consistent

The language you use when giving instructions is important. If the vocabulary is too advanced, or you're using complex grammar structures, students won't understand.

But beyond that, consistency is key. I'll show you what I mean.

Let's look at the example from tip 1: " Write your name on the paper, fold the paper in half and pass it to the person to your left. "

If you repeat those instructions by saying " put your name on the sheet, fold it down the middle and give it to whoever's sitting on your left, " you're making students process an entirely different sentence.

There are lots of ways of saying the same thing. Stick to one. Sure, it's good to teach synonyms and colloquial terms on occasion, but when the aim is to transmit a clear message, you don't want to add extra difficulty.

With one repeated phrase, students can "chunk" the information. The phrase "fold the paper in half" becomes something you can say to them in the future without them needing to think through every single word again.

4. Check for understanding

When you give an instruction, pay attention to the class. Do they look ready to do whatever they need to do, or are they looking at you like you're from another planet?

Some in the class may understand, while others don't. If that's the case, you need to repeat the instructions until everyone knows what they're doing.

Photo by Yan Krukov: https://www.pexels.com/photo/a-man-teaching-a-children-at-a-c-lass-8618024/

The other way of checking if your students understand is to ask them. But be careful.

Asking " do you understand?" will almost always get the answer, " yes " when really they don't fully get it.

Instead, get a student (ideally one who looks a bit unsure) to repeat the instruction back to you, or at least act it out. If they're very low level and you know a bit of their language, you could allow them to say the instructions in that language to confirm understanding.

5. One step at a time

More than anything, patience is required when giving instructions. Whether you're teaching little kids with a very low level of English, or adults with an intermediate level, too many instructions at once stresses them out.

Even if it seems simple to you, it can be too much for students.

Let's take our example, " write your name on the paper, fold the paper in half and pass it to the person to your left."

To an English speaker, this is easy to follow. But for someone learning the language, there's a lot to take in. Three steps and some potentially unknown vocab, like "fold".

When it comes that fast, it's hard to process. So instead, say:

1. "First, write your name on the paper." Perform the gesture and repeat the sentence using exactly the same words. Pause. Check students know what they're doing. In this case, if they write their name on the paper, then they must have understood the instruction!

2. "Fold the paper in half." Again, do a gesture, repeat the instruction and give students some time.

3. "Now, pass it to the person to your left." Same thing. You know how it goes by now.

To add even more structure, hold up fingers to indicate which step you're on.

It may seem slower this way. If you're in a hurry, it's tempting to rush through the instructions, but trust me, the time you'll lose by communicating poorly and having your students do things wrong will outweigh the seconds spent ensuring clarity and comprehension.

Conclusion: Practice makes perfect

There's quite a lot to take in here. And at first, it may seem too much - how can you possibly remember to do all these things in your next class? Well, maybe you can't. That's fine. Take it slow and focus on what you can do right now.

And if you want to practice giving instructions, why not design a class around it? The best way to do this is through arts and crafts activities where there are lots of step-by-step instructions.

To learn how to do this and discover some great ideas, read my article How to Use Arts and Crafts in EFL/ESL + 7 easy activities

And to learn more about EFL/ESL teaching strategies, read one of my other guides:
Best Method to Improve EFL/ESL Students' Vocabulary: 9 Steps
How to Teach Children EFL/ESL With Role Play: Best tips
Gamification in EFL/ESL: Guide to motivating students

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How to Give Instructions in an EFL/ESL Lesson: 5 best tips | Enchanted English

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When it comes to giving instructions to EFL/ESL students, especially those with a lower level, the potential for misunderstanding and frustration is enormous. When I...

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Teachers handle many issues in a day, from disciplinary and behavior issues to a lack of adherence to the daily schedule cases. Consistently experiencing such challenges can sometimes make the teaching profession feel unrewarding. Luckily, teachers can use various classroom management strategies to inspire compliance among students.

It starts with having a solid classroom management plan that outlines the methods and techniques for running a classroom and each lesson. From there, teachers can also upgrade their classroom management skills through a degree in education and apply these additional 20 strategies to manage their classrooms better.

The Best Classroom Management Strategies Today

The five components of effective classroom management include developing behavioral standards, establishing working relationships with students, valuing your time as a teacher, familiarizing students with teaching methods, and anticipating student behavior.

Teachers should implement the following universal classroom management strategies for the best chance of succeeding at managing their classrooms:

The most effective way for teachers to instill good student behavior is by leading through actions, not words. That's because students' minds are still developing, so they learn more from experiences. Therefore, doing simple things like avoiding electronic use, talking politely, and respecting everyone in the class can have a significant impact on molding better student behavior.

Teachers can manage classrooms better by involving students in rule-making, documenting the rules, and setting consequences for breaking them. Teachers should also reward good behavior and talk more positively about students.

Most humans, from employees to students, comply better to set rules when involved in decision-making. Teachers can use this classroom management technique to ensure willful rather than forced compliance with classroom rules throughout the calendar year.

For the rules to work, students should be able to see them every time they enter the classroom. Teachers should create professional charts with all rules typed and stick them in a visible place to ensure they remain on top of each student's mind.

Teachers should avoid punishing the entire class for a mistake made by several students. Instead, they should identify and call out the bad-behaving students after the class and try to discover the cause of their bad behavior to see if they can come up with a solution.

Teachers should generally be social and approachable human beings. Even on bad days, teachers should try to be the most optimistic in the classroom environment and not let their bad moods radiate to the rest of the class.

In every classroom, some students are gifted in academics while others have strengths in other areas, such as art. Teachers should support learners of all students in areas they show interest and passion.

Students love to feel appreciated when they have put some effort toward doing the right things, and it keeps them motivated toward a good path. Therefore, teachers should regularly acknowledge class or student efforts to encourage positive participation and behavior in the classroom.

Teachers should reward good behavior from the entire class or students from time to time to encourage more of it. Rewards can include special parties, outdoor activities during free time, or treats.

Parents often hear from teachers only when their child has done wrong in school. Teachers should also contact parents with positive information or a good word about the children for better student-teacher and parent-teacher relationships.

Learning can become mundane and boring when it's the same old regurgitated content. As such, teachers should spice up each day's learning experience by setting the tone for an exciting day from the minute lessons start. This way, students will remain excited and expectant throughout the day.

Teachers should get to know their students more personally to be in a better position to help them thrive. Privately, they should learn their students' strengths and weaknesses in academics and life to help them grow.

Students are creatures of habit. As such, teachers should set short- and long-term classroom routines and schedules that allow students to know what is expected of them at each point during the day for more productivity.

Bad behavior should never go unchecked in a classroom or students will become hardheaded. Instead, teachers should have creative ways to deal with bad behavior, such as unwarranted class disruptions, to show others that such behavior isn't acceptable.

Classroom Management Techniques for Colleges and Institutions of Higher Learning

Students in colleges and universities admire teachers who have positive personal relationships with them. They're also more compliant in the classroom for teachers with whom they have a good rapport.

Students capture information better when it's conveyed in various formats instead of one. These can include visual presentations such as graphs and PowerPoint presentations, group work, and takeaway assignments.

The passion and enthusiasm shown by teachers rubs off on students too. Therefore, teachers should always try to be their most excited selves in classrooms to encourage active student participation and response.

Teachers should prepare thoroughly for every class they plan to attend during the day. They should review and improve their notes regularly to make them as easy to understand and enjoyable as possible for students.

Teachers should implement a technology-off policy to prevent students from being distracted while in class. The only exception would be laptops for note-taking, but smartphones and other gadgets should be turned off until the end of the lesson.

Bring These Strategies to Life with UoPeople

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Best Classroom Management Strategies To Ensure Success

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How can a teacher manage a classroom effectively? Here are some tested classroom management strategies to try in your class today.

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How To Quiet A Noisy Class - Classroom Management Strategies

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The first questions you ask are important.
Get students' attention and arouse interest from the start of the lesson.

Start with a question on the board to focus them, arouse curiosity or give them a puzzle to solve:
For Example: Is a couch potato a) a type of vegetable? b) a piece of furniture? c) a type of person?

Prepare the questions you need to ask to elicit the vocabulary or language you wish to practice. Working it through in your mind beforehand helps you teach more effectively - plan thoroughly. Do your questions get the answers you need? Check them again before your lesson.

Students were more willing to volunteer answers.

"I don't know" responses decreased.

Students accuracy improved and the length of their replies too.

The teachers became more effective questioners.

Don't be afraid of silence - wait at least 3 seconds for them to think and formulate a response.

If a student cannot answer your question do not wait in silence and humiliate them.

Rephrase your question or ask them a further question to lead them towards the information you need.

Encourage others to suggest answers.

Allow answers to be whispered to help - make this rule clear at the start of the activity.

Do not settle for one correct response. Get suggestions from more students, involving the whole class.

Give students time to answer
In our keenness to get on with eliciting information or checking comprehension we do not always allow students enough time to reply. Remember that the answer is on the tip of your tongue but not on theirs. First they must process your question. Studies show that giving students 'thinking-time' has the following results:

If you would like students to discuss a topic or an issue it is best to use open-ended questions like What? When? How? Direct questions like : Do you like going to the beach? will not generate much language, only a Yes/No response.

Be wary of asking too many questions in a discussion. Pass the questions over to others. Encourage as many contributions as possible "What do you think...? Laurent, do you agree with Serge?

Hesitate before answering your own questions or you will dominate and risk inhibiting student talk.

Tailor the questions to your aims
Select your questions carefully and use them wisely.

By Clare Lavery

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The first questions you ask are important.Get students' attention and arouse interest from the start of the lesson.

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Classroom Questioning: Teacher Question Techniques & Strategies

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No matter which subject and level you are teaching, providing meaningful, positive, and constructive feedback to your students is probably one of your most time-consuming daily tasks. As part of the grading process, you spend hours every week writing comments and notes to your students (and sometimes also their parents).

But, providing feedback to students does not have to be quite so complicated and labor-intensive. Here are some tips and tools to help save you time and energy.

Do's and Don'ts of providing feedback to students:

1. Provide verbal feedback whenever possible.

2. Use encouraging phrases when giving written feedback.

3. Let technology do (most of) the work for you.

4. Give feedback immediately after a learning moment.

5. Provide examples.

6. Follow the "feedback sandwich" rule (positive, constructive/negative, positive).

7. Keep your student's personality in mind.

8. Don't comment on everything all the time.

9. Provide feedback throughout the year.

10. Involve students in the feedback process.

1. Provide verbal feedback whenever possible.

Try to encourage and correct students during your lessons and time with them. It's easier to correct students and give them constructive criticism in person rather than in writing as intonation, tone of voice, and facial expressions help them better understand the feedback. Therefore, when teaching a language, verbal feedback should be the main "source" of feedback to give students a chance to hear the correct pronunciation, sentence structure, and words used in context.

Check out the SmartClass Teaching Platform for teaching languages as it gives you the option to provide verbal feedback for all of your students for every activity. Such a time saver and so important for students!

2. Use encouraging phrases when giving written feedback.

3. Let technology do (most of) of the work for you.

Ever heard of auto-graded activities? Until I used SmartClass I hadn't either. But these textbooks in German, Spanish, and English come with over 50% auto-graded activities and automatically corrected pronunciation practice. I used the time I saved by not having to grade easy assignments to correct and focus on speaking activities my students submitted. And, as mentioned before, you can give verbal feedback for every single activity, which saved me a ton of time typing out comments.

4. Give feedback immediately after a learning moment

Don't wait until the next report card or progress report to give your students feedback. I'd personally not even wait an entire day if it was something I noticed during a lesson. Immediate feedback, rather than allowing time to pass, is better remembered and helps the learning process.

5. Provide examples

Heard your student say something he got wrong before? Make sure to mention that! Providing examples of HOW your students have improved will help them see that their hard work is paying off. Same when they make a mistake: Correct them and give them another example of what to say or write next time and in a different situation to help them understand.

6. Follow the "feedback sandwich" rule (positive, constructive/negative, positive)

When giving longer feedback or writing comments on report cards, start out by saying something positive, followed by criticism and constructive feedback. Then, end with another positive comment. That way, you ensure your students don't only get negative feedback, and packing the negative feedback between two positive "slices" will soften it a bit.

7. Keep your student's personality in mind

Some students might do better with and appreciate criticism, while others get discouraged and sad when they make a mistake. Always keep in mind who you are talking or writing to and try to think of the feedback so they stay motivated and continue to be excited to learn.

8. Don't comment on everything all the time

There is a time and place for feedback, and it's not easy to find the right timing. Try not to over-comment on someone's mistakes, even when they repeatedly make them. It's also helpful to pull students aside to give them feedback so not everyone else in the class hears. Or, try to generalize feedback to the entire class about something most of your students do wrong. Then no one feels singled out, and it makes students feel better knowing that everyone is struggling with something.

The same goes for praise. Always calling on the one or two students that get everything right can be discouraging for the rest of the class. Make sure you find a way to incorporate that in written or individual verbal comments to those students and find a way to make everyone stand out as a good example sometimes.

9. Provide feedback throughout the year

Students can't learn if they don't know what they are doing wrong. Making mistakes is totally normal and should be presented as an opportunity rather than a flaw. Make sure you start giving positive and negative feedback throughout the school year, and not only on report cards or during finals.

10. Involve students in the feedback process.

Self-evaluations are a great way to involve students in their learning process and make them responsible for their own progress. The CEFR offers Can-Do statements for each level and skill so students and teachers alike can review the learning progress.

The "Let's Talk! English" curriculum from Robotel already offers such self-assessment rubrics, but you can also create those based on your lessons and goals.

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Providing written & verbal feedback to students

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Providing feedback to students does not have to be complicated and labor-intensive. Feedback is so important for student learning and growth so follow these tips to be successful.

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Providing written and verbal feedback to students

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"Look at Exercise 1. You need to fill in the missing words. Write only the words. When you’re finished, check your answers with a partner."

How should teachers give instructions?. The TEFL Academy. (2021, December 1). https://www.theteflacademy.com/blog/how-should-teachers-give-instructions/

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“Can we all focus and pay attention, please.”

6 behavior management strategies for your classroom in 2023. 6 Behavior Management Strategies for Your Classroom in 2023 | Positive Action. (2023, September 27). https://www.positiveaction.net/blog/behavior-management-strategies

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"What is an example of an adjective?"

QUESTIONING STRATEGIES. Questioning strategies. (n.d.). https://citl.illinois.edu/citl-101/teaching-learning/resources/teaching-strategies/questioning-strategies

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“You are doing a great job speaking in complete sentences! I notice that sometimes you forget to pause and you get out of breath, don’t forget to pause at the end of sentences and slow things down a little bit. Great job!”

Gascoigne, T. (2022, March 29). Benefits of feedback in the online ESL classroom. Teach Away. https://www.teachaway.com/blog/benefits-of-feedback-online-esl-classroom

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This is an example of giving instruction in the classroom.

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NUR SHAZWANI ARINA BINTI EMY SHAHRIL IPG-Pelajar

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This is an example of managing behavior in the classroom.

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NUR SHAZWANI ARINA BINTI EMY SHAHRIL IPG-Pelajar

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Classroom Questioning & Giving Oral Feedback

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Classroom Questioning & Giving Oral Feedback

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This is an example of questioning ang giving oral feedback in the classroom.

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NUR SHAZWANI ARINA BINTI EMY SHAHRIL IPG-Pelajar

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Questioning & giving oral feedback snippet.mp4