Teach As If You Are Your Own Student

A common expression I often heard when I first started teaching was “Teacher, I don’t understand.” I would, of course, ask them which part they didn’t understand, and then give them further explanation. However, I would still see confusion on their faces. It was my turn to be confused. I had done what I was supposed to do, explain, but still they repeated “Teacher, I don’t understand.”

I didn’t find the answer until I had the chance to observe a student teacher. I had my ‘aha’ moment. The teacher was explaining vocabulary and expressions perfectly. However, she had barely considered her students’ levels and their level of understanding for the “perfect” explanations. At that moment, I realized my mistakes: 1) I treated them like their English was at my level; 2) I taught English like I was an ESL teacher.

I was full of passion to apply all my professional skills and knowledge to my class. Yet, there was one thing I completely forgot: my students. Do they understand what I learned from professional teacher training programs? Do they know the more technical words I use to explain things? No, they don’t. They are students, not ESL teachers. They don’t need to know my professional training skills and language. They need a teacher who understands their language levels and specific needs.

So, what kind of teacher can understand their needs? A teacher who teaches as if they are their own student. Ask yourself: would you understand what you are explaining if you were at their English level? How can you simplify your explanation? If your students ask you what the word “same” means, instead of telling them it means “not different”, would you give examples or use realia to SHOW them what “same” really means?

Now, when I teach, I teach as if it is my first time seeing that word, that sentence or that grammar point. I ask myself what I would need to understand, then use that to guide my students. You have tools you can use, including vivid examples, exaggerated body language and facial expressions, and drawing skills. Use them to help your students. Imagine you are one of your students and teach as if you were. Always ask yourself, “Would I understand?”

What other tips do you have in teaching at your students’ level of English?

Bei Zhang

Hello, my name is Bei Zhang, and I am the TESL Ontario Blog Manager. I am excited to contribute to the team by sharing my ideas and experiences. Currently, I teach ESL and LINC at the Thames Valley District School Board. I earned my Master’s degree in Education Studies from Western University in 2018, focusing on applied linguistics and teacher education. In 2024, I published my research regarding ESL language teachers' self-beliefs in pronunciation instruction in the Journal of Second Language Pronunciation. I look forward to bringing my perspective on teaching ESL across different educational systems to the TESL Ontario Blog, benefiting both the blog and its members.