15 Essential Skills for English Teachers

Introduction

• Importance of various skills for English teachers.
• Chris Westergard, ESL Guru in Prague.
• Overview of training at the Language House.

1. Making Materials Pop

• Enhance presentation with visuals and engaging content.
• Use props and adapt boring activities.
• Tips for new teachers struggling with material creation.
• Recommendation: Fluent.com membership for lesson planning resources.

2. Prioritizing Student Talking Time (STT)

• Students should do most of the talking.
• Use pair and group work to encourage interaction.
• Always incorporate activities that enhance STT.

3. Engagement Techniques

• Keep students engaged to motivate them.
• Utilize body language, voice, and interactive activities.
• Create a positive classroom atmosphere from the start.

4. Mastering Your Voice

• Speak less but make every word count.
• Ensure clarity and audibility.
• Importance of voice as a teaching tool.

5. Incorporating Humor

• Humor is a powerful tool in the classroom.
• Funny teachers often have better student rapport.
• Strive to be both funny and effective.

6. Eliciting Student Responses

• Focus on pulling information from students.
• Shift from lecturing to active participation.
• Use verbal and non-verbal elicits, and guided discoveries.

7. Concept Checking Questions (CCQs)

• Use CCQs to check comprehension without direct questions.
• Avoid asking "Do you understand?" which can lead to false confirmations.
• Apply CCQs in various teaching contexts.

8. Demonstrating Activities

• Always demonstrate tasks rather than just explaining them.
• Use role-play for better engagement.
• Visual learning aids can enhance understanding.

9. Running Classes in L2

• Conduct lessons entirely in English (L2).
• Avoid using the students' native language (L1).
• Helps students learn more effectively.

10. Monitoring Students

• Get close to students and maintain eye level.
• Engage in error correction and positive reinforcement.
• Control language use and encourage grammatical structures.

11. Error Correction

• Significant skill for teachers to correct mistakes effectively.
• Students appreciate constructive feedback to improve.
• Elicit corrections quickly to maintain lesson flow.

12. Maintaining Pace and Flow

• Keep lessons brisk and engaging.
• Set clear breaks and manage time effectively.
• Prepare in advance and delegate tasks to maintain efficiency.

13. Setting Clear Goals

• Visualize desired outcomes for students.
• Define language goals for lessons and semesters.
• Keep students informed of their progress and objectives.

14. Building Rapport and Empathy

• Understand and relate to individual students.
• Adapt teaching style based on class dynamics.
• Recognize different student needs and preferences.

15. Conclusion

• Overview of the 15 skills discussed.
• Encouragement to practice these skills for effective teaching.
• Thank you for watching!