Let’s focus on one of the most essential ingredients of a successful ESL lesson — Student Talking Time (STT).
Whether you’re working with energetic 7-year-olds or shy tweens, we’ve gathered tips, examples, and tools to help you increase interaction and confidence in your lessons.
🎯What is STT & Why It Matters?
STT = Student Talking Time — the amount of time your student spends speaking during a lesson. In online ESL teaching, especially in 1:1 settings, it’s easy for the teacher to dominate the talk time. But the real progress happens when the student is doing the talking.
✅ Why STT Matters:
1. Speaking is active learning.
When students speak, they’re not just practicing vocabulary — they’re activating grammar, pronunciation, fluency, and thinking in English. It’s where multiple skills come together in real-time.
2. Output builds confidence.
The more opportunities students have to speak in a safe environment, the more confident and independent they become over time.
3. Teachers talk too much (often without realizing it).
In online lessons, it’s common to fill the silence — but silence isn’t bad! It gives students time to process and respond.
🛑 Common STT Blockers:
The teacher explains too much or over-models
Instructions are unclear or too long
Questions are closed: “Is it a dog?” “Yes.”
Constant echoing or correction interrupts fluency
💡 Target STT vs TTT
While there’s no fixed ratio, a good benchmark in 1:1 ESL lessons is:
60–80% STT for most of the lesson
20–40% TTT (Teacher Talking Time) focused on modeling, scaffolding, guiding
🧠 Think of STT like gym time:
The teacher is the coach. The student has to do the actual push-ups.
💬 Quick Tips for Increasing STT
Use student names to personalize Qs: “Dani, do you like pizza?”
Model and elicit instead of explaining
Recast mistakes without interrupting fluency
Count how many questions YOU ask — then halve them
Try “Ask your teacher” moments
🧑🏫 Real-Life Lesson Examples
🗣️ Voices from Our Teachers
🔗 Useful Links
📺 Webinar Recording: Talk more, learn more → Watch here
📄 Article: 🧑🎓 Engaging Teens in Online Lessons → Read here
Happy teaching!
All Right Team