English Learning Content: Classroom English

Dialogue

Alice: Bob, are you awake? You looked like you were dreaming about pizza during the lecture!

Bob: Alice! Oh, hey. Not pizza, but maybe a nap. This English class is… intense.

Alice: Intense? It’s “Hello, my name is Bob.” What’s confusing you?

Bob: Well, the teacher keeps saying things. Like, “Open your books to page ten!” And I’m always on page five.

Alice: (chuckles) That’s “Open your books.” Very important!

Bob: And then she says, “Listen carefully!” But my brain is still on page five.

Alice: You need to focus! What if you don’t understand something?

Bob: I usually just nod. But last time, she asked, “Does anyone have a question?” and I accidentally said “Yes!”

Alice: Oh no! What did you ask?

Bob: I panicked! I just blurted out, “What does ‘pen’ mean?” She held up a pen.

Alice: (laughs hard) Bob! That’s a basic word! You could have said, “Can you speak more slowly, please?”

Bob: Good point! Or, “Could you repeat that?” I always forget those.

Alice: Or, “Excuse me, I don’t understand.” It’s okay to ask!

Bob: You’re right. I guess I need to learn this “classroom English” properly. Otherwise, I’ll be asking what “chair” means next week.

Alice: Exactly! Now, open your mind to learning! We have a quiz tomorrow.

Bob: A quiz?! Oh no, I need to “listen carefully” now!

Current Situation

When you are learning English in a classroom, whether online or in person, you will hear and need to use specific phrases to manage your learning. These are called “Classroom English” phrases. They help you understand your teacher’s instructions, ask for help, participate in activities, and generally navigate your lessons smoothly. Knowing these basic phrases can make your learning experience much less stressful and more effective, especially for beginners.

Key Phrases

• Open your books: This means to turn to a specific page or section in your textbook.

  The teacher said, “Open your books to page 20.”

• Close your books: The opposite of opening them, usually at the end of an activity or class.

  When the class finished, we had to “close our books.”

• Listen carefully: Pay close attention to what is being said.

  Please “listen carefully” to the instructions.

• Repeat that, please: Ask someone to say something again. You can also say, “Could you repeat that, please?” for more politeness.

  I didn’t hear you. Could you “repeat that, please?”

• Speak more slowly, please: Ask someone to reduce their speaking speed.

  The speaker was very fast. I asked him to “speak more slowly, please.”

• Excuse me: Used to get someone’s attention politely or to apologize for interrupting.

  “Excuse me,” may I ask a question?

• I don’t understand: Tell someone that you are confused or don’t grasp the meaning.

  This math problem is hard. “I don’t understand.”

• What does [word] mean?: Ask for the definition of a word.

  “What does ‘fascinating’ mean?”

• How do you spell [word]?: Ask for the letters that make up a word.

  “How do you spell ‘beautiful’?”

• May I go to the restroom/toilet?: A polite way to ask permission to leave the room to use the bathroom.

  I need to go. “May I go to the restroom?”

• Stand up: Get up from your sitting position.

  Everyone “stand up” for the morning exercise.

• Sit down: Take a seat after standing.

  After standing, the teacher said, “Sit down.”

• Write this down: Make a note or record specific information.

  This is important information. Please “write this down.”

• Can I ask a question?: A common way to ask permission to pose a query.

  I have a doubt. “Can I ask a question?”

Grammar Points

1. Imperatives (Commands)

Imperatives are used to give direct orders, instructions, or advice. They use the base form of the verb without a subject (because the subject “you” is understood).

• Positive: Verb (base form) + …
  • Example: Open your books.
  • Example: Listen carefully.
  • Example: Sit down.
• Negative: Don’t + Verb (base form) + …
  • Example: Don’t talk during the exam.
  • Example: Don’t forget your homework.

2. Modal Verbs for Requests and Permissions

Modal verbs like “Can,” “Could,” and “May” are used to make polite requests or ask for permission.

• Can I…? (More informal, but still polite)
  • Example: Can I ask a question?
  • Example: Can I borrow your pen?
• Could you…? (More polite for requests to others)
  • Example: Could you repeat that, please?
  • Example: Could you speak more slowly?
• May I…? (Most formal and polite for asking permission, especially from a teacher or authority)
  • Example: May I go to the restroom?
  • Example: May I come in?

3. Question Words for Definitions and Spelling

We use specific question words to ask about meaning and spelling.

• What does [word] mean?
  • Use “what” to ask for the definition or explanation of a word or phrase.
  • Example: What does ‘dictionary’ mean?
• How do you spell [word]?
  • Use “how” to ask for the letters that form a word.
  • Example: How do you spell ‘chocolate’?

Practice Exercises

Exercise 1: Fill in the Blanks

Complete the sentences with the correct classroom English phrase from the list below:

(open, listen carefully, what does…mean, could, excuse me)

1. The teacher said, “_____ your books to page 15.”
   Answer: Open
2. “_____ when I talk. It’s important.”
   Answer: Listen carefully
3. I don’t know this word. “_____ ‘pencil’ _____?”
   Answer: What does…mean
4. “_____ you repeat that, please?” I didn’t hear.
   Answer: Could
5. “_____ , I have a question about the homework.”
   Answer: Excuse me

Exercise 2: Match the Instruction to the Action

Match the classroom instruction to its correct action.

1. Stand up
2. Sit down
3. Write this down
4. Close your books

a. Take a seat in your chair.

b. Put your textbook pages together.

c. Get up from your chair and be upright.

d. Use a pen or pencil to record information.

Answers:

1. c
2. a
3. d
4. b

Exercise 3: Sentence Reordering

Put the words in the correct order to form a complete sentence.

1. understand / I / don’t
   Answer: I don’t understand.
2. spell / how / ‘table’ / do / you / ?
   Answer: How do you spell ‘table’?
3. restroom / I / to / may / go / the / ?
   Answer: May I go to the restroom?