8 Tips for ESL Conversation Lessons
In ESL conversation classes, student talk time should be the star of the show. The more your students speak, the faster they build fluency, confidence, and real communication skills.
However, many teachers (without even realizing it) dominate the conversation. If you’re speaking more than your students, it’s time to make a few simple adjustments. Here are 8 practical tips to limit your teacher talk time and make your ESL conversation lessons truly student-centered.
1. Ask Open-Ended Questions
Instead of yes/no questions, ask questions that need longer answers.
Example:
❌ “Did you go to the park?”
✅ “What did you do over the weekend?”
The more open your questions, the longer your students will talk.
2. Give Students Time to Think
After asking a question, pause. Don’t rush to rephrase it or answer it yourself. Many ESL students just need a few seconds to organize their thoughts.
Waiting patiently encourages deeper, more complete answers.
3. Use Prompts, Not Long Explanations
Instead of explaining grammar or vocabulary in long speeches, use quick examples and move on.
Example:
- “Past tense means it already happened. For example: I walked. I watched TV.”
Then immediately let students try it themselves.
4. Set Speaking Goals
Tell students clearly:
“Today, you will do 70% of the talking.”
Setting expectations motivates students to take more responsibility for speaking.
5. Prompt Longer Student Responses
In one-on-one lessons, it’s important to guide students to expand their answers. Instead of accepting short responses, encourage them to add details, reasons, and examples.
For example:
If the student says, “I like traveling,” follow up with, “Where was your favorite trip? What did you like about it?”
Always push the conversation one layer deeper. This keeps the student talking more while you take on the role of a guide, not the main speaker.
6. Limit Your Corrections
If you interrupt every time there’s a mistake, students will talk less.
Focus corrections only on major issues or save them for after the speaking activity. Fluency first, accuracy second.
7. Give Clear, Simple Instructions
Plan your instructions so they are short and clear.
Instead of explaining the task in 5 different ways, give a direct instruction, check understanding if needed, and let the student get started.
8. Act as a Listener, Not the Main Speaker
In conversation lessons, your role is more facilitator than lecturer.
Ask, listen carefully, take notes for feedback later, and only jump in if a student is really stuck.
The goal is to get them speaking as much as possible, not to fill the silence yourself.
Bonus Tip: Build Strong Sentence Foundations
Clear communication starts with understanding basic grammar structures. If your students struggle to form full sentences, they will hesitate to speak.
My book, “Parts of Speech,” is a simple, practical guide that teaches ESL learners how to build sentences confidently, giving them the structure they need to speak freely in conversation lessons.
👉 Get your copy on Amazon here!
Less teacher talk means more student growth.
With these small changes, you’ll see your students speaking more naturally, confidently, and happily, exactly what a great ESL conversation class should look like!