It can be hard to know how to begin a class. Children are arriving, they’re not in the right mood for English, they’re distracted and their minds are on other things. So you need a routine to let the kids know you’re ready and waiting to begin and to get them into the right state of mind to start speaking English. So here’s a few ideas about how I start every EFL Kids lesson and what might work for you in your classes.
A song to say Hello
This is one of the best ways I find to start a class, especially with little kids. There are loads of different songs you could choose to greet your pupils and get them using English straight away. These are some of my favorites. You can change it depending on the time of day or day of the week or time of year. Alternatively, you can also use it to ask how your kids are feeling today. You will find that after you’ve sung it a couple of times in a row, they will associate it with the beginning of the lesson and will be ready to sing it.
How are you today?
I start every lesson with every class of every age group like this. First I ask them all “How are you today?”. Then I ask the child closest to me the same question. He or she answers and then turns to the child next to them and asks the question and we go around the room until we get to the last child who asks me how I am. It’s such a good way to get straight into the routine of speaking English and to get the children used to asking and answering a basic question. It also starts a conversation and practices a range of vocabulary about feelings (I’m happy, I’m sad, etc.), physical states (I’m cold, I’m hungry) and gives you a chance to enlarge on that by asking why they feel that way.
Put on your English t-shirt
If you’re working in a language school, you probably have to wear some kind of uniform or company outfit. When the kids see you in school, they know you’re the teacher and that they speak English with you. If you’re teaching English at home to your own children or giving private lessons or working in normal schools, you can still use this idea. Have a brightly colored t-shirt or another item of clothing that you put on when you’re ready to start your class. It shows the kids that it’s time for English. When you’ve got that t-shirt on, they have to get into English mode and start work.
Get out the English class mascot
This is a great idea to show that class is starting. A class mascot could be a teddy, an animal toy, a puppet or even a flag or a poster. At the beginning of each class, you, together with the children, can get it out from wherever it is kept . If it’s an animal or a puppet, they can say hello and ask it how it is. If it’s a flag or a poster, they can take turns to hang it up and then the class can begin.
Get a routine going
Getting kids into a routine for class is important and helps them feel familiar and secure with the class setting and with you as their teacher. If they know that you are going to begin the class in a certain way every week, they will be ready to start when you are. This helps you structure your lesson plan and start off each lesson in a positive way.
This is how I start every EFL Kids lesson but I’d love to hear any other ideas you have to share. How do you start a lesson and get children into the right mood for learning English? If you are looking for more teaching ideas, you can find them here, as well as Lesson plans and songs. To stay up to date with new posts, you can follow the GoogooEnglish Facebook page. Alternatively sign up for email updates below.