(2. Classroom Language) 2. Words and Movement

The following conversations are conversations in the classroom. Pay attention to them.

Conversation 1
Pupil 1 : Can I borrow your pencil, please?
Pupil 2 : Yes
Pupil 1 : Thanks

Conversation 2
Teacher : What is this called in English? Anyone know? Guess Juan, do you know?
Juan : Sorry, I don’t know.
Teacher : Okay. Well, it’s called jam.

Conversation 3
Pupil : Can I have a pair of scissors, please?
Teacher : Of course. You know where they are – in the cupboard
Pupil : Thank You.

Conversation 4
Pupil 1 : Whose turn is it to get the books?
Pupil 2 : Elvira’s
Pupil 1 : Your turn Elvira.
Elvira :Okay.

From the conversations we can notice some common expressions used between the teacher-pupil, pupil-teacher, pupil-pupil. To make the conversation in class effective some short and clear expressions are commonly used. Teacher and students can make used of cards containing of common expressions used in a class. The following is the example:

The following are the example of classroom language:
Opening
 Good morning everyone.
 Who is absent today?
 Let’s pray together.
 Why were you late?

Main Activities
 Repeat after me.
 Excellent!/That’s very good!/Well done!
 Photosynthesis can be seen in …
 Raining is the example of …
 Do you understand what I mean?
 Get into groups of three.
 Any suggestions?

Closing
 Time is over.
 To sum up, I can say that today we talk about …
 Let’s pray together.

Furthermore, students will be easily use and memorize the vocabulary and expressions used in English if there is the balance use of words and movements. For example, instead of yelling to the grade 1students to quiet for starting the class, the teacher can use clap and chant “Good Morning”. Some other chants can be used by the teacher and students in understanding the vocabulary related to the lesson, such as “I’m Happy” for emotions and “If I were” for occupations or ideas. Check the chants, and act them out. See the example of those chants. The other way to attract students attention is moving along music and song. “If You’re Happy and You Know It” is one of children songs that can be used in starting the class for warming up.
To see the activities which relate words and movements in the class, click here.