Category: classroom management

CCQs vs Eliciting questions- what’s the difference?

The post discusses the importance of appropriate questioning techniques in CELTA courses to meet Cambridge’s criteria. Key distinctions between eliciting questions and Instruction Checking Questions (ICQs) are highlighted, emphasizing that eliciting questions uncover students’ prior knowledge, while ICQs verify students’ understanding of newly presented content. The common mistake of attempting to elicit unfamiliar subject matter is also addressed.

If you are currently doing a CELTA course or have already completed one, you may already be familiar with criteria reference number 5g:

5g using a range of questions effectively for the purpose of elicitation and checking of understanding

use questions for:

  • setting context
  • building up information
  • assessing learners’ prior knowledge
  • checking meaning of language items
  • checking understanding of instructions

Source: Cambridge Assessment English, CELTA 5

Continue reading “CCQs vs Eliciting questions- what’s the difference?”

Checking Answers and Giving Feedback

Imagine the scenario… You’re in class, checking answers to a gap fill activity on gerunds and infinitives.

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Teacher: Sergio, number three please,

Sergio: He suggested going to the cinema.

Teacher: Yes, he suggested going to the cinema.

“What’s so wrong with that?” I hear you ask … Continue reading “Checking Answers and Giving Feedback”

Giving Instructions: The Golden Rules for CELTA Trainees

We’ve just started a new CELTA course in Munich so instruction-giving is very much on my mind! This is something trainees should try to get sorted out asap but do sometimes struggle with, especially when teaching lower levels. So here are my “golden rules”.

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Classroom Management – Part 2

For lessons to be successful, your classroom management is of paramount importance. You may have the best planned lesson ever but if your classroom isn’t set up well and your instructions don’t work then the lesson will fail.

In this post I will talk about giving instructions.  For classroom layout and interaction patterns please read part 1.

Continue reading “Classroom Management – Part 2”