How to Reduce Teacher Talk Time

How to Reduce Teacher Talk Time

Reducing teacher talk time (TTT) and increasing student talk time (STT) is an important aspect of creating a communicative classroom. Here are some strategies to reduce teacher talk time:

Elicit

• Elicit answers and concepts from students.
• Concept check understanding of new words and structures. Don’t over explain.

Body Language

• Use body language, gestures, props, and the board to explain.

Instructions

• Make instructions simple and concise to avoid explaining them multiple times.

Echoing

• Don’t echo student responses.

Questions

• Ask open-ended questions, not yes/no questions.
• Use “why” and “how” to prompt student explanations.
• Ask follow-up questions.

Participation

• Encourage all students to participate.
• Students should read instructions, examples, exercise questions, and anything else that is possible.  The teacher should never read these things.

Study Methods

• Use inductive methods to teach new ideas.
• Students should use self-discovery to find answers and solutions.

Feedback

• Students can give each other feedback rather than the teacher.

Silence

• Provide students with ample thinking time so they can formulate answers and be prepared to speak.
• Tolerate silence and don’t fill it with TTT.
• Be patient when students are answering a question. Don’t rush to fill the silence with TTT.

Lesson Plans

• Prepare your lesson plans thoroughly. A teacher with a good lesson plan is less likely to fill in gaps with talk time.

Student Confidence

• Be positive about mistakes.
• Provide a welcoming class environment where students feel they are able to make mistakes.
• Increase student confidence whenever possible.

Student Level

• Make sure students are in the appropriate level.
• Ask students appropriate questions so they are able to answer.

“Be interested, not interesting”