“Effective speaking routine in language classrooms help scaffold learners’ talk, making oral language development more accessible and less intimidating”
Andrew Wilkinson
Greetings are one of the first things you learn to say in a foreign language. When you travel to another country and already know how to say “hello!”, “good morning”, or “good afternoon”, you show respect for the other speaker’s culture and help create a more relaxed and friendly environment.
In English sessions, greetings play a very important role. Everyone is greeted and given an opportunity to express themselves and share anything they want or need within a routine that marks the start of every session.
Once everybody is sitting in a circle, the teacher throws the “world plushie” to a child, and the conversation begins: “Hello! Good morning! Good afternoon! How are you?” When the child has answered, it is their turn to ask another classmate, and the activity continues until everyone has spoken.
Although the conversation starts in English, when children want to express something for which they do not yet have the vocabulary or grammar, they naturally switch to Catalan or Spanish. This does not mean that the activity has failed—quite the opposite: they express what they want or need, and in doing so, they reveal the vocabulary they most need to acquire. The teacher, as an active participant in the routine, listens and monitors the conversation, asking questions, rephrasing and introducing the necessary vocabulary. Over time, through repetition, children gradually acquire the structures and vocabulary needed to say things like “Today I am going to the park with my sister” or “I am nervous because I am playing an important football match.”
Another important aspect is that they learn to recognise their emotions and expand their vocabulary to express themselves—not only in English, but also in Catalan. They learn to distinguish between being nervous and excited, bored, tired, or exhausted, and even between being happy and “over the moon.”
A familiar routine like this, with a clear, simple, and predictable structure, offers a great opportunity for everyone to practise speaking and listening in English. Simple, guided repetitions gradually evolve into real conversations in which all learners “build” knowledge together.
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