Hi, today Helen and I would like to speak to you about good teacher talk. And when we say teacher talk, we mean the way teachers speak in the classroom to maximize their students' understanding. >> Teacher talk is an extremely important part of teaching that can make or break the experience your students have with you. There are five aspects of teacher talk that we believe you should always keep in mind and adjust according to the proficiency levels of your students. >> First, make sure to use syntax, grammatical sentence structure, that is appropriate for the level of your learners. For the sake of the lower level students in your class, be careful to use short simple sentences as much as possible to avoid confusing them. >> Likewise, you should be careful not to use vocabulary that is too difficult for your students. As a general rule, especially when giving instructions, try not to use too many words that are beyond your student's understanding. But when needed, make sure to define new terms, to use synonyms, to give helpful examples, and to incorporate visuals to aid comprehension. >> Speaking at an appropriate phase is also very important. For example, it's best to enunciate and to speak at a slower speed if there are some lower level students. If you speak too quickly, you will most likely use reductions such as going to and haveta that your students may not pick up on. Every once in a while remember to listen to yourself as you're speaking and to adjust your rate accordingly. >> Yes, I absolutely agree. Next there's intonation, the rise and fall of your voice. Good teacher talk uses intonation to stress key words in speech and to convey emotions. Using intonation effectively can really boost learner comprehension. >> Yes. And body language is also a great way to aid comprehension. Using your hands, body, and facial expressions is a key aspect of effective teacher talk. Even a simple action like pointing to the board can make a huge difference. So make sure to speak with your body, not just through with your voice. >> Really great reminder, Judy. Teacher talk is not something anyone can just acquire overnight. If you actively reflect and practice these five components of teacher talk, we're sure that you will master teacher talk in no time.