Once you get the hang of teaching English it can be lots of fun and really quite easy to do.

However there are always some questions that can niggle away until you get a clear answer.

So, after 30 years of teaching around the world, here are the questions I find most teachers ask me the most often and the, often really quite simple, answers!

Let’s go ….

Language

The biggest question is always

• How much English / the kids native language to use in class?

Luckily this one has a really simple answer! 

And the follow up question is,

• Should I translate what I say in class into the kids language?

The answer here is no,  do this instead 🙂 

Discipline

The next set of questions usually revolve around discipline and getting kids under control.    We definitely don’t want to be doing the “sit down, shut up!” lessons of the past,  but how do we keep control in a modern, interactive, child centered exciting class?    There is a full Discipline Toolkit in the Teacher’s Set Superpack however you can usually solve 80% of discipline problems with one simple activity:

• The first step to discipline – The Agreement! 

And a related question to this one is ….

• How do I keep kids quiet without saying “shhh”  ( or losing my voice?) 

This video I did with the Genki teachers in Europe has had 40,000 views on Facebook so it’s definitely a popular topic!

Writing, Alphabets & Shyness

Now we move on to

• When to teach the alphabet?

The easy answer is “not yet”  but when exactly should we start so as not to destroy the kids’ fluency or pronunciation?  Here’s the answer with the help of the Genki teachers in Africa. 

(If you’re really into writing and want to know why we keep it for later, check out this in depth guide here on how to teach writing in Genki English)

And If you’re teaching in Asia,  shyness is one popular topic.  This one has an easy answer too:

• What to do with shy kids or kids that won’t talk? 

And we also have guides on Teaching Adults, Teaching junior High &  Babies & 2/3 yrs old

Finances – I don’t have enough money to buy everything I need!!!

Finally the next big question I get from teachers is “I really love your way of teaching but I can’t afford any of the materials, what can I do?”

So I put together this guide on

• how to (dramatically) increase your income as an English teacher

Whether you are earning $10, $100, $1000 or $10,000 teaching English per month, there is something for you here.

 (If you’re earning more than $100,000 per month teaching English i.e. you’re probably doing really well on social media or already have several schools,  then one on one coaching is probably better for you,  get in touch for my rates.) 

And of course there are lots more ideas, tips, tricks, games and ideas in the FREE “Superhero Teacher” email course or in the paid for Teacher’s Set Superpack.

You’re going to love teaching Genki English and hopefully all the questions and answers above will make every night a super peaceful night where you can enjoy all the cool parts of being a Genki teacher during the day and sleep all night long knowing you are doing an amazing job for your students and the world!

Be genki,

Richard