Useful classroom expressions

All the expressions we’ve gathered here may be
used with younger or older children and have been
divided into categories according to context, so
that you pick and choose according to your needs.
➜Beginning the class
Build up a set of routines at the beginning
of the class. Students will grasp this language
very easily.
• Hello! Hi! Good morning! Good afternoon!
• Take off your jackets, please. Close the door,
please. Write the date on the board, please.
• Take out your books, please. Give out the books,
please. Alicia, share your book with Laura, please.
• Exercise one at the top of page three.
Activity two at the bottom of page three.
Which exercise are we doing?
• Work in groups of three. Work in pairs.
Work on your own.
• Have you done your homework?
• Juan isn’t here today. He is not well.
• Have you got a pencil? Can I borrow your
rubber? Can you lend me a rubber, please?
• Ready? Let’s start. David, you start.
• What did you say Juan?
• Just a moment. Wait a minute. Hold on a second
➜Classroom materials
Encourage the use of English when referring
to classroom materials. They are a great source
of new vocabulary for all content areas.
• A sheet of paper. Has everyone got a sheet
of paper?
• The textbooks. Put your textbooks in your
schoolbags.
• The activity books. The activity books are
on the shelf.
• The workbook. Pepe, collect in the workbooks,
please.
• A flashcard. The flashcards go in that box.
• A poster. Help me stick this poster on the wall.
• A dictionary. Do you need a dictionary?
• Your picture dictionary. Draw it in your picture
dictionary.
• The calendar. Hang the calendar next to the door.
• The weather chart. Let’s all look at the weather
chart.
• The chalk. A piece of chalk. The chalk is finished.
• Some plasticine. Get some plasticine and make
an animal.
• The crayons. The crayons are Laura’s.
• Felt tips. The felt tips are dry.
• Coloured pencils. Colour it in with your coloured pencils
➜Controlling the class
These expressions are among the first that
students learn and start using among themselves
spontaneously. Learners like to take on the
teacher’s role and control other classmates.
• Please be quiet! Speak quietly! Can’t you speak
more softly? No noise, please.
• Stop chatting! Stop speaking! Whisper, don’t
shout! Silence! Shut up, will you?
• Please pay attention!
• Don’t do that! Don’t touch! Put that away!
• Calm down! Settle down! Sit still!
• Juan, stop bothering David!
• Stop playing with your pencil.
• Stop talking and watch the video.
• Stop talking and listen, please.
➜And something else ...
These expressions offer an excellent opportunity
to teach students how to use fun English
naturally!
• Couldn’t you drag yourself out of bed this
morning?
• Have you been playing truant?
• Hey! Wake up, your head’s in the clouds!
• Stop your moaning!
• Watch what you are saying.
• Wash your mouth out with soap!
• Get your finger out!
• Don’t be rude!
• Wipe that silly smile off your face!
• What’s so funny?
• Stop acting the clown!
• Don’t go bananas!
• Don’t be a rotter!
• Mind your own business!
• This is a madhouse!
• You’re driving me round the bend!
• What’s all the racket about?





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