Show notes
What should you actually do in your first English lesson? How much should you prepare, what questions should you ask, and how can you help everyone feel comfortable?
Welcome to the first episode of How to English TEFL Podcast with Gav and Em! We’re two EFL teachers sharing honest experiences of teaching and learning English as a foreign language.
We discuss first-lesson nerves, preparation for groups and one-to-one lessons, icebreakers, remembering names, assessing English levels and understanding students’ goals. Gav recalls an awkward question activity, while Em shares how late arrivals turned introductions into a memorable repetition exercise.
We also ask how much teachers should share about themselves and whether every first lesson needs a specific language point. For students, we offer practical ways to prepare, ask questions and take useful notes.
EPISODE GUIDE
Episode Guide: What Should Teachers and Learners Do in Their First English Lesson? – S01E01
https://howtoenglishpod.com/episode-guide-s01e01-what-should-teachers-and-students-do-in-their-first-english-lesson/
READ ALL THE ARTICLES FROM THIS EPISODE
What Really Happens in a First EFL Lesson? – S01E01
https://howtoenglishpod.com/what-really-happens-in-a-first-efl-lesson/
How Do You Prepare for a First English Lesson? Practical Tips from Real Teachers – S01E01
https://howtoenglishpod.com/how-do-you-prepare-for-a-first-english-lesson-practical-tips-from-real-teachers/
What First-Lesson Activities Actually Work? Real Classroom Stories and Solutions – S01E01
https://howtoenglishpod.com/what-first-lesson-activities-actually-work-real-classroom-stories-and-solutions/
How Do Teachers Build Rapport in the First Lesson? Boundaries, Personality, and Trust – S01E01
https://howtoenglishpod.com/how-do-teachers-build-rapport-in-the-first-lesson-boundaries-personality-and-trust/
How Can Students Prepare for Their First English Lesson? Expert Advice You Can Use Today – S01E01
https://howtoenglishpod.com/how-can-students-prepare-for-their-first-english-lesson-expert-advice-you-can-use-today/
How Do Teachers Identify Learner Types in the First Lesson? – S01E01
https://howtoenglishpod.com/how-do-teachers-identify-learner-types-in-the-first-lesson-understanding-visual-auditory-and-kinaesthetic-students/
Why Are First Lessons So Awkward? The Real Emotional Experience for Teachers and Students – S01E01
https://howtoenglishpod.com/why-are-first-lessons-so-awkward-the-real-emotional-experience-for-teachers-and-students/
What Do Students Expect in Their First EFL Class? Insights from Real Classroom Experience – S01E01
https://howtoenglishpod.com/what-do-students-expect-in-their-first-efl-class-insights-from-real-classroom-experience/
Do you enjoy first lessons? Share an activity that worked, an unexpected classroom moment or your best first-lesson tip in the comments.
Subscribe for more conversations about teaching and learning English with Gav and Em.
CHAPTERS
00:00 Welcome to How to English
01:30 First-lesson nerves and preparation
04:56 An icebreaker that didn’t go to plan
07:38 Late arrivals and memorable introductions
09:40 Speaking activities, names and classroom confidence
11:59 Assessing levels, needs and expectations13:02 How much should teachers share about themselves?
15:03 Teacher and student anxiety
17:29 Different personalities and classroom dynamics
18:54 Learning preferences and shared responsibility
21:27 Making first lessons useful and remembering names
22:31 How students can prepare
23:53 Taking and sharing lesson notes
24:38 Should you teach grammar in the first lesson?
26:10 Final tips for teachers and students
26:54 Share your first-lesson experiences
The opinions shared in this podcast are our own, based on our personal teaching experiences.
#TEFL #TeachingEnglish #LearningEnglish #FirstLesson #HowToEnglish
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