This document discusses teacher talking time (TTT) and student talking time (STT) in language lessons. TTT refers to the amount of time the teacher spends talking, while STT is the time students spend talking. Too much TTT can make lessons teacher-centered and prevent students from practicing the language. However, TTT can be positive when used for storytelling or instructions. There is no single correct balance, as cultural expectations and individual student needs vary. Overall, teachers should be aware of how and when they use TTT to maximize student engagement and language practice.
2. What is a TTT for you? Use your imagination! Could it
be your pet? What would it be? Tell me!
◦ My colleagues said that they hadn´t had any idea, a crocodile, they don´t know at the moment and I added that for me it is a
monster as Jekyl and Hyde.
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3. Definition of TTT and STT
Teacher talking time is the time that teachers spend talking in class, rather than learners.
Student Talking Time is the time learners spend talking rather than the teacher.
Both terms in connection with communicative teaching method.
TTT makes a lesson teacher centered.
◦ If the teacher talks too much in a lesson, students themselves are just passively immersed in the language and cannot
practise and learn!
◦ Often an issue for new / and very nervous teachers.
◦ Often an item for an observer in your lesson. Simply there should not be much of it.
Three videos follow, please watch them as your homework, any of your following ideas are really wellcome!
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4. Celta Teacher Talk
Jo Gakonga 30 000 views 2015
◦ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SUrfRKqs-MY
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5. Teach Like a Champion - Kaizen Teaching
nearly 20 000 views 2017, 6 minutes
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6. How to avoid talking too much when teaching
English
British Council Teaching English nearly 20 000 views 2018
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7. What to do to limit TTT
◦ First one needs to be aware of it.
◦ Calm down, silence in a lesson has its function! Even in language classes silence is golden!
◦ Don´t do everything instead of the learners, wait for the answer.
◦ Students can help each other and also give feedback to each other.
◦ CCQ, ie concept checking questions.
◦ Instructions at its best quality.
◦ Use body language, mime, gestures and facial expressions.
A You Tube video worth watching:
Over 6000 vievw, approximately 5 minutes.
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8. Can TTT be a positive thing in a class? When?
Help me to brainstorm the answers, please!
◦ We agreed during our short discussion that TTT while storytelling or giving appropriate instructions is a great thing.
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9. Conclusion by BC: do you agree?
◦ “There are advantages and disadvantages to TTT. It is not easy to reduce TTT when talking to the students is a
natural thing to do and when there is inevitably a theatrical side to language teaching. In certain cultures, there is
also a tradition of ‘chalk and talk’ which influences the expectations and behaviour of both teachers and students.
However, bearing in mind the nature of the communicative classroom, teachers should perhaps be aware of the
quality of their TTT and how it is used rather than trying to reduce it to a bare minimum.“
◦ https://www.teachingenglish.org.uk/article/pros-cons-teacher-talking-time
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10. Food for thought and further discussion:
◦ Can introverts be extremely happy with TTT and no need for pairwork or groupwork?
◦ When the class is extremely tired and without much energy after a difficult lesson, can you wake the class up and not to talk to
them?
◦ There was absolutely no time for FFT.
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11. Sources and further studies:
Articles by British Council:
https://www.teachingenglish.org.uk/article/teacher-talking-time-0
https://www.teachingenglish.org.uk/article/stt
https://www.teachingenglish.org.uk/article/pros-cons-teacher-talking-time
Jim Scrivener: Learning Teaching Macmillan Books For Teachers
Videos:
Celta training video, length 12:20 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SUrfRKqs-MY nearly 24 000 followers
Kaizen teaching length 6:06 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IcWM8BD7pZs nearly 10 000 followers
British Council Teaching English length 2:06 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8xpr2e8zSLU nearly 50 000 followers
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