Teaching English conversation requires a unique skill set. It’s not just about knowing grammar or vocabulary—it’s about guiding students to become confident, fluent speakers who can navigate real-world situations. Whether you’re teaching English online, in a classroom, or one-on-one, there are key principles that can help make your lessons engaging and effective.
In this article, we’ll take a deep dive into the essential tips and strategies for teaching English conversation, ensuring you can create meaningful, interactive, and enjoyable lessons for your students. From preparing topics to building student confidence, these 10 tips will provide you with the tools to teach like a pro.
What is Teaching English Conversation?
Teaching English conversation involves helping students practice speaking in English by engaging in interactive dialogue. These lessons primarily focus on improving fluency, building confidence, and expanding vocabulary through real-world conversations. Unlike grammar-focused lessons, conversation classes prioritize practical language use in everyday situations.
Key characteristics of English conversation lessons include:
- Real-world scenarios: You engage students in topics they might discuss outside of class.
- Student-driven discussions: Your role is to guide the conversation, not dominate it.
- Fluency over accuracy: The primary goal is communication, not perfection.
The skills developed in these lessons enable students to hold meaningful conversations, express ideas clearly, and better understand others in both personal and professional contexts.
Who Benefits from Teaching English Conversation?
English conversation lessons are valuable for a wide range of learners, but they are particularly beneficial for students who want to improve their speaking skills outside of traditional classroom settings. These students may include:
- Business Professionals: Executives or employees working with international clients who want to enhance their pronunciation and confidence in professional discussions.
- Teenagers Preparing for Exams: Students aiming to boost their speaking skills for English proficiency tests.
- Adults Seeking to Maintain Their Skills: Adults who may have learned English years ago and want to stay fluent.
- Travel Enthusiasts: Students who plan to travel and need the language for socializing and navigating daily life.
Since conversation classes focus on practical, everyday language, they’re useful for almost any learner who needs to communicate fluently in English.
Skills for Teaching English Conversation
To be effective in teaching English conversation, certain skills are essential. These are not only teaching skills but personal qualities that help create a comfortable and engaging learning environment.
Here are the core skills needed:
- People Skills: Building rapport is crucial. You must be able to make students feel at ease, encouraging them to speak freely, without fear of making mistakes.
- Conversational Skills: You need to be an excellent conversationalist. This includes being a good listener, knowing how to ask engaging questions, speaking at an appropriate pace, and having clear pronunciation.
- Nonverbal Communication: Communication isn’t just verbal. Being aware of body language, facial expressions, and tone can help convey meaning and make students feel more comfortable.
- Improvisation Skills: Conversations can take unexpected turns, so you need to be adaptable, ready to follow new topics, and steer the discussion in a productive direction.
If you can master these skills, your conversational lessons will feel natural and productive, giving students the confidence they need to practice their English.
Where Can You Teach English Conversation?
In today’s digital age, there are many platforms where you can teach English conversation, both online and in-person. Here are some of the best options:
1. Online English Teaching Marketplaces
Marketplaces like Preply, Italki, and Cambly provide platforms where you can set up your profile, offer conversational English lessons, and connect with students globally. These platforms handle administrative tasks, so you can focus on teaching.
Advantages:
- Flexible schedule: Teach at times that suit you.
- Diverse students: You can teach students from all over the world with different language needs.
2. Private Tutoring
If you prefer a more personal approach, private tutoring—either online or in person—can be a rewarding experience. By marketing your services on social media or using your own website, you can attract a dedicated group of students who want one-on-one conversational lessons.
Advantages:
- Control over pricing and scheduling.
- Personalized lesson plans tailored to individual student needs.
By offering conversational English lessons on these platforms, you can connect with motivated learners and gain teaching experience in a relaxed setting.
10 Essential Tips for Teaching English Conversation
Now that we’ve covered the basics, let’s dive into 10 practical tips for teaching English conversation like a pro. These strategies will help you engage students, reduce stress, and maximize speaking opportunities.
1. Prepare a List of Discussion Topics
While a conversation class should feel natural, it’s always helpful to have a list of potential discussion topics. This list doesn’t need to be rigid, but it gives you a fallback when conversations slow down.
Consider topics that are:
- Relatable: Ask about hobbies, family, or daily activities.
- Open-ended: For example, “What’s your ideal vacation destination, and why?”
- Relevant: Discuss current events, pop culture, or new technology to spark interest.
These topics will help you keep the conversation going smoothly, even if your student runs out of things to say.
2. Be Comfortable with Silence
Silence can feel uncomfortable, but it’s essential to give your student time to think. Don’t rush to fill the silence with your own words. Remember, your student is processing their thoughts and may need a few moments to organize their response.
Key Takeaway:
Silence is a natural part of conversation—let students formulate their answers at their own pace.
3. Prioritize Student Talking Time (STT)
As a teacher, it’s tempting to talk a lot to fill the space, but your student needs to practice speaking more than you. Focus on minimizing teacher talking time (TTT) and maximizing student talking time (STT).
Guidelines:
- Encourage your student to speak in full sentences.
- Prompt them with questions that require longer answers.
- Avoid interrupting too frequently.
4. Ask Open-ended Questions
Open-ended questions encourage your student to elaborate and provide more than just a simple yes or no answer. These types of questions also allow for a natural flow of conversation and give your student the chance to practice different sentence structures.
Examples of open-ended questions:
- “What do you think about this book/movie?”
- “How would you handle this situation in the workplace?”
- “Can you describe your favorite meal?”
5. Evaluate Your Own Speech
Your students will mimic your speaking style, so be mindful of your speed, clarity, and vocabulary. Speak clearly and at a pace that’s comfortable for your student, but don’t talk too slowly. They need to be exposed to natural speech patterns.
Remember, the goal is to help students feel comfortable in real-life conversations, not just textbook examples.
6. Take Notes During the Class
Taking notes is crucial for error correction and tracking progress. While your student is speaking, you may notice grammatical mistakes or areas where they could improve. Rather than interrupting their flow of speech, write down notes to address at the end of the class.
Here’s how to use your notes effectively:
- Error Correction: At the end of the conversation, gently point out common mistakes or areas for improvement. This allows the student to practice speaking without the pressure of correcting themselves mid-sentence.
- Track Progress: Jot down recurring issues or topics that need more attention in future lessons. You can revisit these areas to help your student continue improving over time.
7. Use Visual Aids to Enhance Conversation
Even though conversation classes are primarily oral, incorporating visual aids can enhance understanding. A whiteboard, a digital tool, or even a shared document can be helpful in the following ways:
- Vocabulary building: Write down new words and phrases as they arise in conversation.
- Pronunciation practice: For tricky words, use a whiteboard to break them down phonetically.
- Grammar reference: Occasionally, visual aids can help clarify concepts like sentence structure or verb conjugation.
The goal is to support the student’s learning without interrupting the flow of the conversation. Using visuals helps solidify their understanding of what they’ve just learned.
8. Incorporate Fun TEFL Activities
Conversation doesn’t have to be serious all the time! Integrating activities can add a fun element to your lessons while still reinforcing the language skills students need. Here are a few suggestions:
- Role Plays: Simulate real-life situations, such as ordering food at a restaurant or conducting a job interview. This provides students with useful language for everyday life.
- Topic Generators: Use tools like ConversationStarters.com to get random discussion topics. These can spark spontaneous discussions and challenge students to think quickly.
- Games: Incorporate games that require speaking, like trivia or “Two Truths and a Lie,” which make conversation practice more interactive and fun.
Fun activities like these keep students engaged, making them look forward to every class!
9. Assign Homework to Reinforce Learning
Homework can be an essential part of improving conversational skills. Assigning relevant tasks gives students the opportunity to prepare for the next lesson and practice outside of class time. Here are a few homework ideas:
- Listen to Podcasts or Videos: Ask students to listen to a podcast or watch a short video and summarize it in their own words. This will give them new vocabulary and ideas to bring into your next conversation.
- Read and Discuss: Have students read an article or book excerpt, then ask them to discuss it with you in the next lesson. This helps them prepare to speak about new topics.
- Journaling: Encourage students to write a short journal entry about their day, a recent event, or their thoughts on a topic. Then, they can share it with you in the following class.
Remember, homework doesn’t have to be time-consuming or boring—it’s all about reinforcing the language learned in class and preparing students for the next conversation.
10. Be Flexible and Adapt to the Conversation
One of the key strengths of teaching conversational English is its spontaneity. Unlike structured lessons, conversation classes often take unexpected turns, and that’s okay! Sometimes, the most productive discussions happen when you deviate from the planned topic and follow your student’s interests.
Here’s how to embrace flexibility:
- Let the conversation flow: If a student becomes passionate about a subject, explore it further. This keeps the student engaged and provides natural opportunities for learning.
- Respond to student needs: If your student struggles with a particular topic or vocabulary, adjust the lesson to address their challenges.
- Stay adaptable: You might start with one topic but end up on another entirely—embrace it! This approach makes learning feel more natural and less stressful for both of you.
Being flexible allows students to engage more deeply with the language and feel more confident in their speaking abilities.
Summary: Mastering the Art of Teaching English Conversation
Teaching English conversation requires a mix of skills, creativity, and adaptability. By following these 10 tips, you can make your lessons more engaging, help students improve their fluency, and build their confidence in real-world communication. Remember, the goal is not just to teach the language but to create an environment where students feel comfortable expressing themselves in English.
Here’s a quick recap of the 10 tips:
- Prepare a list of topics to keep the conversation flowing.
- Be comfortable with silence to give students time to think.
- Prioritize student talking time over teacher talking time.
- Ask open-ended questions to spark deeper conversation.
- Evaluate your own speech for clarity and pace.
- Take notes to track progress and correct mistakes later.
- Use visual aids to reinforce key points.
- Incorporate fun activities to make learning interactive.
- Assign homework to reinforce learning outside of class.
- Be flexible and adapt the lesson to student interests and needs.
By incorporating these tips, you’ll be well on your way to becoming a highly effective conversational English teacher, creating lessons that students love while helping them develop the speaking skills they need to succeed in real life.
Building Confidence in Your Students
Teaching English conversation is not just about improving vocabulary or grammar—it’s about making students feel confident in their ability to speak and express themselves. Many students fear making mistakes, but it’s important to create an environment where mistakes are seen as opportunities for learning rather than setbacks.
Here’s how you can build confidence in your students:
1. Celebrate Small Wins
Positive reinforcement is crucial in a conversational setting. Celebrate when your student successfully uses a new word, speaks for longer than they normally would, or expresses a complex idea clearly. This encourages them to continue practicing without fear of judgment.
Consider giving praise for:
- Using new vocabulary
- Initiating conversation confidently
- Communicating their ideas clearly
These small successes can give students a sense of accomplishment, boosting their morale for future lessons.
2. Be Supportive During Mistakes
Make sure to offer gentle correction when necessary, but always do so in a way that encourages learning rather than discouraging progress. Instead of interrupting the student mid-sentence, take notes and offer feedback after the conversation has ended. When you correct, frame it positively:
- “You almost got that right! Instead of ‘I have went’, the correct form is ‘I have gone’. Let’s practice that together.”
- “Great effort! You said ‘I done’, but the right way to say it is ‘I did’. You’ll get it with more practice!”
By providing this kind of feedback, you help students feel supported rather than criticized.
3. Create a Safe Learning Environment
Many students feel embarrassed when speaking a second language, especially in front of others. As a teacher, it’s your job to create a non-judgmental environment where they feel safe making mistakes. Some ways to do this include:
- Active listening: Show your student that you’re interested in what they’re saying, even if they make mistakes.
- Positive body language: Use open gestures, nodding, and smiling to show that you are approachable and encouraging.
- Empathy: Remind your students that everyone makes mistakes when learning a new skill—and language learning is no different.
When students feel like they’re in a safe space, they’re more likely to take risks and speak more confidently.
Using Real-Life Materials to Improve Conversation
A great way to prepare students for real-world conversations is to immerse them in authentic, real-life materials. This helps them practice speaking English in contexts they’re likely to encounter outside the classroom. Integrating such materials into your lessons provides students with practical, applicable language and encourages them to use English in everyday situations.
1. Use News Articles and Podcasts
News articles and podcasts provide exposure to authentic language use. Here’s how you can incorporate them:
- Read and discuss: Choose short, easy-to-understand articles and ask your students to summarize the main points. This will improve their reading comprehension and vocabulary.
- Listen and speak: Play a short podcast and ask your students to give their opinion on the topic or summarize what they heard. This helps them improve listening skills while offering new topics for conversation.
2. Role-playing Real Situations
Using role-playing activities allows your students to practice conversational English in situations they’ll encounter in real life. Some examples include:
- At a restaurant: Practice ordering food or making a reservation.
- At the airport: Have students role-play checking in, asking for directions, or talking to airline staff.
- In a job interview: Practice answering common questions and responding confidently.
Role plays help students get used to using English in realistic, pressure-free situations.
3. Use Visual Materials
Incorporating visual materials such as photographs, maps, and videos can be a fun and effective way to spark conversation. You could:
- Show pictures related to travel, work, or everyday life, and ask students to describe them.
- Watch short video clips from movies or documentaries and discuss the content.
- Use maps or brochures to plan hypothetical trips or explore topics related to geography.
Visuals provide a stimulus for students to practice vocabulary and create more dynamic, engaging conversations.
Managing Different Student Levels
When teaching conversational English, it’s important to consider the varying levels of proficiency among students. Whether you’re teaching beginners or advanced learners, it’s important to adapt your teaching methods to meet the needs of each student.
1. Beginners
For students who are still learning the basics, focus on:
- Building basic vocabulary: Focus on everyday topics like family, food, and hobbies.
- Simple conversations: Encourage short exchanges that help them gain confidence. For example, practicing greetings, asking for directions, or ordering food.
- Gradual progress: Avoid overwhelming beginners with complex grammar rules or vocabulary. Gradually increase the difficulty as their proficiency improves.
2. Intermediate Students
For students who already have a solid understanding of English, focus on:
- Expanding vocabulary: Introduce more specialized words related to work, culture, and hobbies.
- Complex conversations: Encourage discussions on more abstract topics, such as opinions, ethics, or current events.
- Error correction: Pay attention to grammar mistakes, and provide guidance on sentence structure or verb usage.
3. Advanced Students
For advanced students, the goal is to maintain their fluency and refine their skills:
- Real-life discussions: Introduce complex topics like politics, philosophy, or economics, and encourage detailed conversations.
- Advanced listening and speaking: Use podcasts, TED Talks, or debates to expose them to different accents, speed, and vocabulary.
- Polish nuances: Work on areas like tone, intonation, and idiomatic expressions to improve fluency and naturalness.
By adjusting your approach for each level, you’ll help all your students progress at their own pace.
Conclusion: Embrace the Journey of Teaching Conversation
Teaching English conversation is not just about grammar and vocabulary—it’s about empowering your students to speak confidently and fluidly in a language they may be unfamiliar with. By using these tips, creating a safe environment for mistakes, and using real-life materials, you’ll foster engaging, practical lessons that motivate your students to learn.
Remember, patience, empathy, and adaptability are key to success. The beauty of teaching conversational English is that every lesson brings new opportunities for learning, growth, and connection.