Teaching Adults English: Your First Lesson

In response to your most frequently asked questions, I've made a video sharing what I do with my students on my first lesson to help you feel more confident about teaching your new student! 💪

In this video, I touch on two main topics:
🔹 What do I do with my student on the first lesson - 1:32
🔹 What if my student isn't chatty - 4:00

Stress can be a huge hindrance so I find that insuring my students' comfort is an important part of my lesson.
Check out my video "How to make your student comfortable" here:

Websites and YT channels I often use to find topics for my students with some of the videos that I've used:
Interesting discussion topics, great for groups too:

[garyomalley]

Have you ever noticed whenever you meet someone for the first time as soon as you share something about yourself they start to relax - it's exactly the same with a class
put 3 topics about yourself on the board - After introducing yourself ask the class to formulate a question about one of your subjects - this has never failed me in 15 years n so much info comes out with it - you'll witness the stress disappear

[ulidasiadari]

I'm 18 and my student is 20's. This video really helps a lot to build my confident and ideas. Still.. I'm a bit nervous lol

[stillunderthefridge]

I’m 16 and teaching my Mexican mom English. She wants to know so I decided that I’d watch videos to help her out

[JackieBolen]

For a first lesson, just be sure to make it as student-centred as possible. Get students working in pairs or small groups!

[samiyahshaikh]

I am 13 and I am trying to teach my mom English. My English is great and I read books all day. My mom wants to be able to read English and I have taken it upon myself to teach her which she is happy for. I have my old English novels like 1st grade till 8th grade which I am in now.
From grade 5 onwards I have my grammar and vocab books too which I remember loving.
It is hard in the beginning but at a certain point like grade 5 it will be easier as I will have more resources. I want her to be confidently be able to speak in English cause she will be extremely happy.
She is interested in reading harry Potter cause I tell her that I want her to read it as soon as she can and seeing me so passionate she definitely wants to try it out but her leaving level is definitely not there. Yet. It's the start of the journey.

[fernandaduarte]

I've been watching your videos and they are a great help! I'm new at teaching and I am soooo nervous about meeting my new students, but watching you and hearing you talk gives me more confidence and I'm starting to feel a bit less nervous and a little more excited to meet them! Thanks a lot!

[sinemyapcoglu]

I have a new adult class which starts on this monday, and I feel stressful about it. So I came across this video and really wanted to thank you because while watching I had a relief and the ideas just started to run into my mind. Hope I can do my best and make my Ss to do their best :) Thanks again, Suzi!

[zpthbpb]

I can listen to you the whole day! You talk very easy, in a simple and relaxed way! Thanks for these tips!

[valsyd]

There's already so much peace in your face that would give people a positive energy. God bless.

[eltteacher]

Great ideas, just wanted to let you know this has been absolutely very useful right before my very first speaking lesson with one of my students, thank you Suzi!

[InsolentWench]

I live in México and accidentally volunteered to teach English to a friend and her (rapidly growing) circle of friends. They are at... is there a negative level? They're at English (101 - 2). I've never taught English in my life, and with the first class starting next week, I'm looking for a very basic step-by-step guide. You know: Step 1: Open door. Step 2: Walk in. Step 3: Say hello--in English....

I don't know how I get myself into these things, but I look forward to watching the rest of your videos--you're an absolute delight!

[henryfurlott]

Thank you very much for your inspiration. I am tutoring an 8yr old girl, who, I would say, is actually doing fairly well. I will now take more notes and be more organized!!! I'll be next helping the parents, so on to ESL vids...
BTW about the first thing I said (to her and her parents) was that there are no dumb questions.

[altynaiabdrakhman]

I was stressed about preparing my lesson for the adult learners until I came up with this video. Thank you Suzi!

[meroshelalo]

Thank you so much, in fact I just finished my very first session with a student and i was so much stressed, but what you are saying now is giving me confidence in what I did, and thank God it was just fine, thank you again

[enjoyenglishclubs]

Thank you so much for your video!
Your tips were amazing, I love the way you talked about the moments when the student isn't chatty. Sometimes those are uncomfortable moments, but it's always good to know how to motivate their participation.
In those kind of moments with those particular students I like speaking first about my day and while I'm speaking I say something interesting that happened to me and ask them their opinion about it. Sometimes students love listening to stories from the teacher's life hehe.
Good tips!!

[BWcapture]

I remember taking a free first lesson with a Russian tutor. The introduction was short: How are you? What is your name? Why are you learning Russian? I think she asked this n English. Then she went into a reading exercise. It felt rushed and formulaic. I don't remember being asked whether I wanted to do an exercise. Anyhow, just an example of what to not do in a first lesson.

[ciama]

Thank you so much, I was looking for some ideas about how to start a 1st lesson.. Im preparing myself to a job interview for a teaching position.

[pamzulauf]

Thanks for this! I'm about to start tutoring ESL adults. I'm pretty nervous/excited! This is helpful!

[jennysita]

That's excellent for an advanced English class but if the students don't know English, they're beginners so it doesn't work

[bernadettehawes]

Just googled this and came up with your video. I was so inspired I just had to find you on YouTube so I could post. I’m not an English teacher, just a native speaker who wants to help a friend learn English. I was terrified of the idea and your video just turned that around into excitement. I can’t go see her today, but now I can’t wait. I was amazed when you said you didn’t do assessments, tests etc unless asked by an employer. This was one thing which was freaking me out.
Her young children are learning, and she helps them, so I’ll start with having a look at their books to start somewhere.
Have you any suggestions for how best to approach this?
She wants to do an exam eventually like baccalaureat equivalent but is likely nowhere near that level yet so it may take time. She’s very willing to give it a go.