TEACHING IDEAS

ESL / EFL RESOURCES The First Day of ESL/EFL Class

The first day of ESL/EFL class is one of the most important days for students and teachers.
It sets the tone for the rest of the course or semester. Good first impressions are vital for
establishing a rapport and connecting with your students. You and the students will both feel
excited and a little anxious. Having a well-prepared first lesson helps to put everyone at ease
and establishes a structured learning environment from the get-go. Here are a few steps to help
you and the students get the most out of the first class.

First Impressions

Before the students arrive, set up the classroom seating. Students often make decisions about
what the class will be like by the way the chairs are arranged. U-shaped seating is ideal for most
ESL/EFL classes as it helps to create a more relaxed and open atmosphere that encourages
student participation. Also, make sure you are dressed appropriately. Research suggests that
clothing affects how people first judge you. A shirt and tie for men or smart dress for women
adds to your credibility and confidence. Smile and greet the students as they enter the class to
give a great first impression and to show the students you are professional and approachable.
When you arrive to class early, it provides students with a model of how to behave. You cannot
condemn lateness or tardy behaviour if you do the same yourself. Also, coming to class early
gives you time to get set up and deal with any issues that arise like getting the projector
to work. You certainly don't want to be dealing with problems like these with a class full of
students looking at you.

Names

It is a good idea for you to start using the students' names as soon as possible. Depending on
the country you are in, you may wish to use students' first names or nicknames. On the first
day, have name cards for the students to wear, so you and the other students can remember
one another's name. You could also draw up a seating plan with the students' names on.
Learning a lot of names takes time. Don't be ashamed if you forget a student's name. Be direct,
apologize, and ask for their name. The more you use the students' names in class, the quicker
you will remember them. Students often feel good when you know who they are, and it helps
build a more personalized relationship between you and the students. Games and activities that
help students remember one another's name are also useful. Try out our Portraits activity to
help students with names. For younger learners, you can play The Name Game.

Introducing yourself

Introducing yourself to the class is an important part of the first lesson. The students will be
interested to know who you are and what you are like. You should introduce yourself and give
some background information about who you are. This will help students relate to you and begin
building the student-teacher relationship that's so important on the first day. Your introduction
is also an opportunity to establish your own credibility. Tell the class about your teaching
experience and qualifications. This will give the students confidence in your teaching ability.
There are many ways to introduce yourself. Think about your teaching style and do whatever
works best for you. This will help set the tone of the class. To keep the first class active and
reduce boring speeches, try turning your introduction into a game or activity the students can
participate in. After all, participation is key in the English classroom. To help you introduce
yourself to the class, here are some fun activities you can use. The Who am I game is not only
great for introducing yourself, but you can also gain insight into your students' level of English,
which is extremely useful on the first day. Teacher's Question Time is another entertaining way
to introduce yourself to the class. This game provides the students with a chance to write and
respond to a variety of questions.

Teach-This.com © 2017 Permission granted to reproduce for classroom use.

 TEACHING IDEAS

ESL / EFL RESOURCES The First Day of ESL/EFL Class

Games

There is nothing better to make students feel relaxed than playing a fun ESL/EFL game. Playing
a game in the first lesson makes the students feel energized, calms nerves and improves their
confidence to speak English. Playing a game also helps to break down any barriers between you
and the students. Some great games to play on the first day of class can be found on our First
Day Introduction Games page.

First class activities

Your students need to understand that they will be active participants in your class. Asking
students to introduce themselves, ask you a question, talk about their expectations for the
course, or introduce a partner are all good activities for the first day of class. Try to keep all the
activities you do in the first lesson fun and light. Don't start off with a grammar lesson that will
kill the classroom dynamics. It's also important for you to find out about the students so you
can tailor future classes to suit them better. If you find out the students like a particular pop
group or football team, you will be able to tap into this interest at a later point in the course.
Have a look at our Introductions page for activities to help students greet each other, find
out one another's name and introduce themselves and others. You could also try our Giving
Personal Information page for resources to help students talk about themselves. We also have
a Getting to Know You activities page that contains fun materials to use in the first lesson.

Class rules

A set of rules for the class is not a bad thing. Students need to understand what you consider
acceptable behaviour. However, don't have too many rules and whatever rules you have make
sure you stick to them. Students will normally test the rules to see how you react and to see
what they can and can't get away with. Stick to your guns and don't bend the rules for anyone,
or you will lose credibility. Additionally, you will want to go through any other expectations you
have for the class, such as homework or in-class behaviour.

The course

The students will want to know the course objectives and the basics of the course syllabus to
help them clarify what they have to do. Explain the significance of the course and how learning
English will benefit the students. In this way, the students will invest their time and energy into
studying with you. Try not to criticize the textbook if you don't like it. Instead, show enthusiasm
for the content. If you show interest in what you are teaching, this will rub off on the students.
At this point, you may wish to go through any other administrative information, e.g. office
hours, breaks, exams, attendance, grading, lateness, etc. Furthermore, cover how you plan to
teach. For example, if you want the class to work in pairs or small groups, try to incorporate an
activity that covers that on the first day. Also, make sure you set aside a time for the students
to ask questions about the class or course. Shy students may wish to come and speak to you
at the end of class. Give these students time and try to answer all their questions.

Phones

Phones are generally an annoyance in the classroom and affect teaching and learning. A good
idea to stop phone usage is to introduce a small fine for offenders. This turns an annoyance into
something that is quite amusing and financially beneficial. You can ask the students to suggest
a worthy charity on the first day of class and donate the money you receive at the end of the
course or semester.

Teach-This.com © 2017 Permission granted to reproduce for classroom use.

 TEACHING IDEAS

ESL / EFL RESOURCES The First Day of ESL/EFL Class

Another strategy for dealing with phones in class is to offer offenders a choice of giving the
phone to you or having their phone put in a paper bag, stapled shut and left on the student's
desk. The bag offers students reassurance that the phone isn't confiscated, but also stops
phone usage as the bag is sealed and if it's touched the bag makes a loud crinkling noise which
discourages the student from touching it.

Racks or boxes are also a popular choice to limit phone use. As the students come into class,
they put their phone on the rack or in the box and get it back at the end of class. If you're
teaching younger students, you can create a points system that rewards students each time
they remember to turn off or put their phones on silent. At the same time, the system can be
used to take away points from students who are caught using their phones during class. At the
end of each week or month, award small prizes to the students with the most points.

Final thoughts

A lot of time and effort goes into planning the first lesson. However, the results are worth it. An
engaging and fun first lesson will put your students at ease and help create a positive learning
environment for the rest of the course. Good luck.

Teach-This.com © 2017 Permission granted to reproduce for classroom use.