English as a Medium of Instruction (EMI)
Module 1: Task 2 – Complete 5 Readings
Reading 1.5: Building Confidence to Teach in English
You may be nervous to teach in English. That is very natural! Speaking or lecturing in public causes
many people to be nervous in general, and teaching or lecturing in a second language is even more
nerve-wracking. Some teachers worry that some students will actually have a higher spoken proficiency
of English than they have. However, while being nervous about teaching your course in English is a
normal concern, it is also one that is largely one that you can overcome. Remember that you are the
content expert. So, with preparation and practice, your anxieties with teaching in English will diminish
and your students will benefit from the strong content knowledge that you have to offer them.
Teacher Nervousness and Confidence when Teaching in English
As you prepare for teaching your EMI course, see the list below to build your confidence and overcome
any nervousness you may feel.
1. Be clear and concise: Lecture with sentences that are clear and concise. You do not need to say
the same thing several times. You do not need to use large or complicated sentences or
vocabulary. If you find that students are having difficulties in understanding your accent in
speaking English, first try slowing down your rate of speech. Also, be sure that you are using the
correct word stress, particularly on terms from your content area. Check an online dictionary for
pronunciation. Spend time every day reviewing and practicing with online materials and tools—
several free and high-quality ones are available. Try recording yourself, listening for
comprehensibility, practicing several times, and recording yourself again.
2. Use audiovisuals to reinforce main points: You can use PowerPoints or other slide programs,
where you have listed main points. You can also prepare students for key terms at the beginning
of the lecture or even before the lecture. You can show students graphs or even videos to help
them understand points you are making.
3. Use flipped learning: You can record your lectures and ask students to watch those for
homework. Then in class, you do problems, case studies, discussions, etc.
4. Have students contribute: You can ask students in groups or individually to present material or
lead discussions. In this way, students are able to share what they care about and showcase
their own learning. And if some of your students have an English proficiency that is more
advanced, having students lead discussions or give presentations allows them to contribute in
positive ways.
5. Practice! Speak your lectures and practice a few times before you present them for your
students. If you find words that you need to practice more, then you can look them up in an
© 2019 by Ohio University. Reading 1.5 Building Confidence to Teach in English for the AE E-Teacher Program, sponsored by the
U.S. Department of State with funding provided by the U.S. government and administered by FHI 360. This work is licensed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License, except where noted. To view a copy of this license, visit
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online dictionary. That way, you can practice pronunciation and speaking before your class
starts. You can even practice in front of a mirror or video record yourself. Watch your video, and
if you find things to revise, then you can try things out before teaching.
6. Observe a colleague: If you have a co-worker who is teaching an EMI course, you can observe
them and take notes on strategies you can use in your own course. Similarly, when you start
teaching a course in English, invite a colleague to visit your class and ask them to share any
feedback on your clarity of delivery, activities, or student support, for example.
7. Connect with your students: Students learn better when they know their instructor cares about
them and their learning. You can use your native language to connect with students, and also in
English, be sure to show that you care about their learning. Students will be more willing to relax
and speak English in class if they know they have a supportive instructor. They will also be more
supportive of any mistakes you might make with your English, if they know you are all working
toward a larger goal and care about each other.
8. Reflect on your teaching: Keep notes about lessons that work well and those that don’t work so
well. For those that don’t, reflect on what you can change for next time so that students feel
more engaged and can learn the most from the lesson.
9. Create a professional network: Find other teachers who are using English in their courses and
create a support group. Discuss challenges and strategies and tips to facilitate success. Keep
your sessions positive yet realistic. Share your successes!
10. Take it easy! Keep in mind that you don’t have to be a “perfect” English speaker. If and when
you make mistakes, remember that the focus of EMI teaching is the content and that you are
helping students develop the skills they need for this competitive global market. So don’t be too
hard on yourself. Teaching always means reflecting, refining, and trying again. Try to relax and
enjoy yourself.
Be sure to share any strategies with your colleagues so that you all can learn from each other!