English Teaching Methods: What They Are, When to Use Them, and How to Blend Them
No single method fits every class. Successful teachers mix approaches based on learners, goals, time, and tools. Here’s a practical guide you can use tomorrow morning.
Real-World Classroom Challenges (and What to Do)
Mixed ability levels
RealitySome fly, some struggle—often in the same room.
Use Task-Based or CLT with tiered tasks; rotate pairs (strong+developing); provide optional challenge cards.
Large classes & limited time
RealityHigh TTT (teacher talk time) and low speaking turns.
Short Audio-Lingual drills for chorus practice, then breakouts for CLT role-plays; strict timeboxing and clear roles.
Exam pressure
RealityGrammar and reading often dominate.
Blend Grammar-Translation for accuracy with Task-Based timed tasks to build fluency and test stamina.
Low confidence / high affective filter
RealityLearners hesitate to speak.
TPR for beginners; Suggestopedia ambience; Silent Way prompts; quick wins before open speaking.
English Teaching Methods in Plain English
The Direct Method
Core idea: No L1; meaning through demonstration and context.
Best for: A1–B1 classrooms aiming for quick oral skills.
Try: Real objects, gestures, picture prompts, immediate correction.
Grammar-Translation
Core idea: Rules, translation, and written practice.
Best for: Exam prep; explicit grammar stages.
Watch: Add speaking tasks so fluency doesn’t suffer.
Audio-Lingual
Core idea: Listen-repeat drills create automaticity.
Best for: Large classes; intonation/phonology work.
Try: Minimal pairs, substitution/transformation drills.
The Structural Approach
Teach structures in a graded order, building complexity.
Blend with: CLT tasks to use forms meaningfully.
Suggestopedia
Relaxed setting, music, and stories to lower filters.
Use for: Confidence building and beginners.
Total Physical Response (TPR)
Students respond physically to commands; great for young learners.
Try: Classroom commands, action stories, sequence tasks.
Communicative Language Teaching (CLT)
Fluency through information-gap, role-play, problem-solving.
Best for: B1+ classes; speaking-heavy lessons.
The Silent Way
Teacher prompts minimally (cuisenaire rods, charts); students discover language.
Use for: Noticing, self-correction, reflection.
Community Language Learning
Teacher as counselor; group decides topics; L1 allowed strategically.
Immersion
Content through English all day; language learned implicitly.
Use for: Camps, bilingual schools, intensive programs.
Task-Based Language Teaching (TBLT)
Pre-task → Task → Language focus; performance over drills.
Best for: Authentic outcomes (plans, surveys, products).
The Natural Approach
Rich input, low stress; speaking emerges later.
Blend with: Reading/listening floods, visuals.
The Lexical Syllabus
Teach high-value phrases, not just grammar lists.
Try: Phrasebanks, corpus-informed examples, chunk recycling.
A 45-Minute Lesson Template (CLT × TBLT blend)
- Engage (5') — Visual prompt + 2 quick questions (pairs). Goal: activate background knowledge.
- Input (8') — Short dialogue or mini-text (listening/reading). Students underline useful chunks.
- Pre-Task (5') — Teacher models task with one student; clarify success criteria.
- Task (12') — Pairs/groups complete a communicative task (e.g., plan a weekend tour with budget).
- Report (5') — Groups share outcomes; quick audience questions.
- Focus on Form (7') — Elicit common errors; board 3–4 patterns; brief micro-practice (drills or transformation).
- Wrap-up (3') — Exit ticket: one chunk learned + confidence level (1–5).
Tip: For very young or beginner classes, start with 2–3 minutes of TPR and shorten the Task stage.
