This document discusses giving instructions and checking for understanding in English language teaching. It provides examples of clear instructions like "Work in groups. Talk about your weekend." and suggests using simple yes/no questions called Instruction-Checking Questions (ICQs) to confirm learners understood, such as "Are you going to work alone?" after the instruction "Work in groups." Trainees are asked to reflect on what they found useful and what they need to learn more about regarding giving instructions.

1. Session 8: Giving and Checking
Instructions / Reflection and
Action Planning
British Council 2014

2. Giving and Checking Instructions /
Reflection and Action Planning
Learning outcomes
By the end of Session 1, Formadores will be better able
to:
• Understand the reasons for using and exploiting
authentic texts with YLs
• Explain how to find and explain authentic materials to
exploit with children
• Analyse a sample Unit Plan and identify NEPBE
syllabus components, Pair work and Group work and
Learner-centred activities and grasp the importance of
sharing this with Facilitadores.

3. Discussion
• When do you give instructions in class?
• When do you give instructions in the
students’ language?
• Which instructions do you give in English?
• What kinds of problems do you have when
you give instructions in English?

4. Giving instructions in English
What are some of the
advantages and disadvantages
of giving instructions in
English?

5. Giving clear instructions
What makes an instruction
clear?

6. Making instructions clearer
• Suggested answers:
– Work in groups. Talk about your weekend.
– Maria, please could you come and sit here.
– Please open your books to page 24. Do
Exercise 1.
– I’m going to tell you a story about me when I
was young. Listen and decide if I was good or
bad.

7. Instruction-Checking Questions
(ICQs)
Simple questions (e.g. yes/no questions) you
ask to check learners have understood what
you are asking them to do.
Examples:
"Work in groups" "Are you going to
work alone?"
"Turn to page 24” "What's the page
number?"

8. Write Instructions
Suggested answers:
– Open your books to page 50. Do exercise 5.
– Please go and sit with xxx.
– Work in pairs. Discuss these three questions.
– Listen to the story. When I've finished, answer
three questions.
– Stand up. Speak to 5 people. Ask them about
their families.

9. ICQs
Suggested answers:
•What page is it? What exercise will you do?
•Who are you going to sit with?
•How many people are you working with?
How many questions?
•What are you going to do first?
•How many people care you going to talk to?
What are you going to ask them about?

10. Reflection
• Complete the following sentences
• 1 One thing that I found very useful today
is …..
because …...
• 2 One thing that I have to study / read
about more is …..