Are you working harder than your students? Excessive Teacher Talk Time (TTT) is a common challenge for many ESL instructors, often resulting in lower student engagement and slower language acquisition. In this deep dive for ESL Plug, we explore the 30/70, 0/70 golden ratio of classroom communication. Discover research-backed strategies to reduce your verbal footprint, master the art of elicitation, and empower your students to take the lead. It’s time to stop performing and s

One of the most dangerous phrases in an ESL classroom is: "Do you understand?" As teachers, we’ve all been there. We finish explaining a complex grammar point like the Present Perfect, look out at a sea of nodding heads, and ask that fateful question. The students, eager to please or too shy to admit confusion, chorus a collective "Yes." Then, five minutes into the practice activity, it becomes clear that nobody understood at all. This is where the ESL Plug comes in. To tru