Understanding Essential Classroom Commands
Mastering classroom commands is crucial for ESL and TEFL learners. These commands help manage classroom activities and ensure smooth communication between teachers and students. This lesson covers common classroom commands, providing learners with the necessary tools to understand and follow instructions in an English-speaking classroom environment.
In this lesson, you will learn over 101 examples of classroom commands, along with their meanings. Each command is explained clearly, helping you understand its context and use. By the end of this lesson, you will be able to respond appropriately to various classroom instructions, enhancing your overall learning experience.
Useful Vocabulary for Classroom Commands
This section introduces key vocabulary and phrases used in classroom settings. Understanding these terms will help you follow instructions accurately and participate actively in class.
Common Classroom Commands with Examples
- I am Theo.
- Meaning: Introducing oneself.
- Example: I am Theo, your English teacher.
- Stand up.
- Meaning: To rise to a standing position.
- Example: Please stand up for the national anthem.
- Sit down.
- Meaning: To take a seat.
- Example: After standing, the teacher said, "Sit down."
- Come up to the board.
- Meaning: To move to the front where the board is located.
- Example: Theo, please come up to the board and write your answer.
- Look at the board.
- Meaning: Directing attention to the board.
- Example: Everyone, look at the board to see the new vocabulary.
- Close the door.
- Meaning: To shut the door.
- Example: It’s noisy outside; please close the door.
- Take your exercise book.
- Meaning: To pick up your exercise book.
- Example: Take your exercise book and turn to page 10.
- Open the window.
- Meaning: To open the window for fresh air.
- Example: It’s hot in here; can someone open the window?
- Open your book.
- Meaning: To open the textbook or notebook.
- Example: Open your book to chapter three.
- Close your book.
- Meaning: To shut the textbook or notebook.
- Example: Close your book and listen carefully.
- Read.
- Meaning: To look at and comprehend the written text.
- Example: Read the first paragraph out loud.
- Be quiet.
- Meaning: To stop talking or making noise.
- Example: Be quiet while your classmate is speaking.
- Take your pencil.
- Meaning: To pick up your pencil.
- Example: Take your pencil and start the exercise.
- Write.
- Meaning: To form letters or words on a surface.
- Example: Write your name at the top of the page.
- Draw.
- Meaning: To produce a picture or diagram.
- Example: Draw a picture of your favourite animal.
- Listen.
- Meaning: To pay attention to sounds or spoken words.
- Example: Listen to the instructions before starting the task.
- Raise your hands.
- Meaning: To lift your hand in the air.
- Example: If you know the answer, raise your hands.
- Erase the board.
- Meaning: To remove the writing from the board.
- Example: After writing, please erase the board.
- Stand in a line.
- Meaning: To form a line by standing one behind the other.
- Example: Stand in a line before entering the classroom.
- Pass out the papers.
- Meaning: To distribute papers to everyone.
- Example: Pass out the papers to your classmates.
- Collect the homework.
- Meaning: To gather the homework from everyone.
- Example: Please collect the homework and bring it to me.
- Repeat after me.
- Meaning: To say something after the speaker has said it.
- Example: Repeat after me: "The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog."
- Pair up with a partner.
- Meaning: To form pairs with another person.
- Example: Pair up with a partner for this activity.
- Turn around.
- Meaning: To face the opposite direction.
- Example: Turn around and face the back of the classroom.
- Form a circle.
- Meaning: To arrange in a circular shape.
- Example: Form a circle for the group discussion.
- Come here.
- Meaning: To move to where the speaker is.
- Example: Come here and see this example.
- Go back to your seat.
- Meaning: To return to your place.
- Example: After finishing the activity, go back to your seat.
- Line up.
- Meaning: To form a line.
- Example: Line up at the door before recess.
- Face the front.
- Meaning: To turn towards the front of the room.
- Example: Face the front and pay attention.
- Walk slowly.
- Meaning: To move at a slow pace.
- Example: Walk slowly and carefully in the hallway.
- Raise your voice.
- Meaning: To speak louder.
- Example: Raise your voice so everyone can hear you.
- Lower your voice.
- Meaning: To speak more quietly.
- Example: Lower your voice; others are working.
- Turn off the lights.
- Meaning: To switch off the lights.
- Example: Turn off the lights when you leave the room.
- Turn on the projector.
- Meaning: To switch on the projector.
- Example: Turn on the projector for the presentation.
- Hand in your assignments.
- Meaning: To submit assignments.
- Example: Hand in your assignments by the end of the class.
- Take a break.
- Meaning: To have a short rest.
- Example: Let's take a break for five minutes.
- Come to the front.
- Meaning: To move to the front of the room.
- Example: Come to the front and present your project.
- Put away your books.
- Meaning: To store books in their proper place.
- Example: Put away your books before we start the activity.
- Look at the screen.
- Meaning: To direct your gaze at the screen.
- Example: Look at the screen for the next slide.
- Get into groups.
- Meaning: To form groups with others.
- Example: Get into groups of four for this task.
- Work quietly.
- Meaning: To work without making noise.
- Example: Work quietly so others can concentrate.
- Turn to page...
- Meaning: To open the book to a specific page.
- Example: Turn to page 45 in your textbook.
- Underline the keywords.
- Meaning: To draw a line under important words.
- Example: Underline the keywords in the passage.
- Highlight the main ideas.
- Meaning: To mark the important ideas.
- Example: Highlight the main ideas in yellow.
- Circle the correct answer.
- Meaning: To draw a circle around the correct option.
- Example: Circle the correct answer in the quiz.
- Write a paragraph.
- Meaning: To compose a short piece of writing.
- Example: Write a paragraph about your weekend.
- Share with the class.
- Meaning: To tell or show something to everyone in the class.
- Example: Share your findings with the class.
- Take notes.
- Meaning: To write down important information.
- Example: Take notes during the lecture.
- Complete the worksheet.
- Meaning: To fill out the worksheet.
- Example: Complete the worksheet and hand it in.
- Discuss with your partner.
- Meaning: To talk about a topic with your partner.
- Example: Discuss the questions with your partner.
- Answer the questions.
- Meaning: To respond to the questions asked.
- Example: Answer the questions at the end of the chapter.
- Read aloud.
- Meaning: To read so that others can hear.
- Example: Read aloud the first paragraph.
- Look at the example.
- Meaning: To examine the given example.
- Example: Look at the example before starting the exercise.
- Spell the word.
- Meaning: To say or write the letters of a word in order.
- Example: Spell the word "education."
- Count to ten.
- Meaning: To say numbers from one to ten in order.
- Example: Count to ten with me.
- Ask a question.
- Meaning: To inquire about something.
- Example: If you don’t understand, ask a question.
- Match the words.
- Meaning: To pair words that go together.
- Example: Match the words with their definitions.
- Label the diagram.
- Meaning: To write names on parts of a diagram.
- Example: Label the diagram of the human body.
- Put on your headphones.
- Meaning: To wear your headphones.
- Example: Put on your headphones for the listening exercise.
- Listen to the audio.
- Meaning: To pay attention to the sound recording.
- Example: Listen to the audio and answer the questions.
- Take out your notebook.
- Meaning: To bring out your notebook.
- Example: Take out your notebook and write today’s date.
- Hand out the tests.
- Meaning: To distribute tests to everyone.
- Example: Hand out the tests and start the exam.
- Fill in the blanks.
- Meaning: To complete the sentences with the correct words.
- Example: Fill in the blanks with the correct verb form.
- Check your answers.
- Meaning: To review your answers for mistakes.
- Example: Check your answers before submitting the test.
- Draw a line.
- Meaning: To make a line with a pen or pencil.
- Example: Draw a line under each sentence.
- Write your name.
- Meaning: To put your name on your paper.
- Example: Write your name at the top of the page.
- Pass the papers forward.
- Meaning: To send papers to the front of the room.
- Example: Pass the papers forward when you’re done.
- Look at the picture.
- Meaning: To examine the image.
- Example: Look at the picture and describe what you see.
- Write a sentence.
- Meaning: To create a sentence.
- Example: Write a sentence using the new vocabulary.
- Open the dictionary.
- Meaning: To open the dictionary to find a word.
- Example: Open the dictionary and look up the word.
- Turn off your phone.
- Meaning: To switch off your mobile phone.
- Example: Turn off your phone during the lesson.
- Pick up the trash.
- Meaning: To collect and dispose of rubbish.
- Example: Pick up the trash around your desk.
- Clean the desks.
- Meaning: To wipe and tidy the desks.
- Example: Clean the desks before you leave.
- Put your hand down.
- Meaning: To lower your raised hand.
- Example: You can put your hand down now.
- Line up at the door.
- Meaning: To form a line at the door.
- Example: Line up at the door before we go to the gym.
- Raise your hand to speak.
- Meaning: To lift your hand before talking.
- Example: Remember to raise your hand to speak.
- Wait your turn.
- Meaning: To be patient and wait for your chance.
- Example: Wait your turn to ask a question.
- Put away your phone.
- Meaning: To store your phone out of sight.
- Example: Put away your phone during class time.
- Start the timer.
- Meaning: To begin the countdown on a timer.
- Example: Start the timer for the quiz.
- Write neatly.
- Meaning: To write in a clear and legible manner.
- Example: Write neatly so I can read your answers.
- Underline the title.
- Meaning: To draw a line under the title.
- Example: Underline the title of your essay.
- Fold the paper.
- Meaning: To bend the paper over itself.
- Example: Fold the paper in half and hand it in.
- Find the mistake.
- Meaning: To look for the error.
- Example: Find the mistake in the sentence.
- Compare your answers.
- Meaning: To look at and discuss answers with a partner.
- Example: Compare your answers with your partner.
- Follow along.
- Meaning: To read or do something at the same time as others.
- Example: Follow along as I read the passage.
- Write in your own words.
- Meaning: To paraphrase or explain in your way.
- Example: Write the summary in your own words.
- Complete the sentences.
- Meaning: To finish the sentences by adding words.
- Example: Complete the sentences using the correct form of the verb.
- Put your things away.
- Meaning: To tidy up and store your belongings.
- Example: Put your things away before leaving.
- Check your work.
- Meaning: To review your work for errors.
- Example: Check your work before you submit it.
- Close the blinds.
- Meaning: To shut the window blinds.
- Example: Close the blinds to reduce glare on the screen.
- Open the blinds.
- Meaning: To open the window blinds.
- Example: Open the blinds to let in more light.
- Log in to the computer.
- Meaning: To enter your credentials to access the computer.
- Example: Log in to the computer and start the software.
- Log out of the computer.
- Meaning: To sign out of the computer system.
- Example: Log out of the computer before you leave.
- Put on your coat.
- Meaning: To wear your coat.
- Example: Put on your coat before we go outside.
- Take off your coat.
- Meaning: To remove your coat.
- Example: Take off your coat and hang it on the rack.
- Turn on the fan.
- Meaning: To switch on the fan.
- Example: Turn on the fan if it gets too warm.
- Turn off the fan.
- Meaning: To switch off the fan.
- Example: Turn off the fan when you leave.
- Organise your desk.
- Meaning: To tidy and arrange your desk.
- Example: Organise your desk before the next activity.
- Work with your group.
- Meaning: To collaborate with group members.
- Example: Work with your group to solve the problem.
- Stay in your seat. - Meaning: To remain seated. - Example: Stay in your seat until the bell rings.
- Put up your hand if you need help. - Meaning: To raise your hand to request assistance. - Example: Put up your hand if you need help with the task.
Summary and Takeaways
Lesson Overview
This lesson provided an extensive list of essential classroom commands aimed at improving classroom interactions for ESL and TEFL learners. With over 101 examples, learners can understand and follow various classroom instructions.
Key Phrases Learnt
Key phrases included commands commonly used in classroom settings, such as "Stand up," "Sit down," and "Look at the board," along with their meanings and examples.
Practice Exercises
Learners are encouraged to practice these commands in a classroom setting or with a partner. Repeating the commands and responding appropriately will help reinforce learning.
Tips for Remembering
To remember the commands, use them frequently in real classroom situations. Writing them down and practising them regularly will also help reinforce your learning.
Further Lessons
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