This article covers everything you need to know about receiving feedback from students.

Another valuable resource, alongside this article, is our Lesson visits webinar, which provides an in-depth look at what students expect in Fluentbe lessons.

Feedback is a key part of your profile, where you can view the ratings students leave regularly by completing a form sent via email or choosing the ‘Give Feedback’ option in Student Space.

The Fluentbe standard for feedback is a rating of 4.8 or higher. We understand that in some cases it may be lower due to various reasons, so please do not give away a course because of the lower rating.

Students can choose to answer all questions or a few random ones.

Click 'Details' next to each section to see who provided the feedback and when.

This feature helps you assess your teaching performance and adjust your approach if necessary. Feedback, even when it's lower, is valuable as it gives you the opportunity to refine your methods and improve your teaching.

Find some tips on how to improve specific areas.

This guideline applies to all teachers who are able to speak their students’ native language.

The Fluentbe standard is to conduct lessons primarily in the target language, except in situations where it’s absolutely necessary to use the student’s first language (L1). L1 should only be used when the student is a complete beginner and when they have difficulty understanding some concepts after you've tried a few approaches to explain something.

Here's how you can effectively teach A0-A1 level adult students while still meeting this standard:

Step 1: Lesson Structure

When teaching using Fluentbe presentations, always adhere to the four-pillar lesson structure.

For lessons using other materials, try to replicate this structure as closely as possible.

For guidance on the four-pillar structure approach, view our webinar here.

Step 2: Leave time for feedback, yours and theirs, at the end of each lesson.

Use abundant positive praise, acknowledging effort, even in challenging lessons.

Emphasize the value of practice and completing homework assignments and assure them that every effort contributes to their progress.

This is crucial. All teachers at Fluentbe must use a USB headset and high-quality technical equipment to ensure clear communication, audibility, and visibility. Additionally, lessons must be conducted in a professional manner and appropriate setting. Background noise and unprofessional attire are not acceptable at Fluentbe.

While it's crucial to give clear explanations, it's equally important not to overwhelm students with unnecessary information or changes. Straying too far from the provided instructions in our Fluentbe presentations can confuse learners and disrupt the flow of the lesson. Therefore, it's advisable to adhere to the designated program while incorporating supplementary explanations and examples to enhance understanding.

For more details, refer to the previously mentioned metric called Conduct lessons in the target language.

It is essential to ensure that each student has ample speaking time in every Fluentbe class, as they are specifically designed and promoted as speaking-focused sessions.

In addition to following the Teacher Instructions, be sure to keep these principles in mind:

Minimize teacher talking time: This gives students more opportunities to express themselves.

Provide preparation time: Allow students time to prepare before engaging in exercises, boosting their confidence and readiness to speak.

Ask open-ended questions: Encourage discussion by asking questions that require more than a simple yes or no answer, fostering extended conversations.

Elicit rather than provide answers: Prompt students to think critically and express their thoughts by eliciting responses instead of providing solutions.

Demonstrate activities: Use demonstrations to enhance understanding, promoting a more hands-on approach instead of lengthy explanations.

Conduct brainstorming sessions: Generate essential vocabulary and structures through collaborative brainstorming, preparing students for upcoming activities.

Scaffold activities: Gradually introduce vocabulary or structures in controlled activities before moving on to more open-ended exercises.

Encourage pre-lesson preparation: Motivate students to complete pre-lesson activities in their profile.

Make lessons relevant: Tailor lessons to align with students' interests and needs, ensuring engaging and meaningful discussions.

Vary interaction patterns: Incorporate individual work, pair work, and group work to cater to different learning styles and preferences.

Summary: Reinforce learning by reviewing tasks at the end of the lesson, helping students recognize and celebrate their progress.

For these two areas, we highly recommend watching our recent webinar on Corrections and feedback. It’s packed with valuable information and insights that can make your teaching even more effective.

This should be fun. You know your students best, so always adjust each lesson to make it relevant and engaging for them. By consistently relating the lesson topic to their work or personal life, you'll help them connect better and stay motivated throughout the lesson.

Remember that they usually have great knowledge about their field e.g. management, marketing, or doing business, but what they lack is the language to present themselves as experts and effective communicators.

Fluentbe provides a wealth of materials for teachers, ranging from interactive exercises, role plays, and discussion to authentic texts and multimedia content. Leveraging these materials not only saves time but also ensures alignment with the course program and learning objectives. To make lesson activities more dynamic and engaging, consider the following strategies:

Problem-Solving Approach: Fluentbe presentations involve real-life problem-solving tasks that require students to apply language skills. Encourage students to immerse themselves in these scenarios, using their knowledge to overcome language challenges and express their thoughts clearly

Interactive Activities: These are essential parts of the lesson where students work independently. Each interactive activity typically includes at least two steps. Skipping these discussion points can make the lesson feel less engaging.

Role-Plays and Discussions: Always reserve time for role-play and discussion activities. Encourage students to engage in real-life scenarios, as these activities allow them to apply skills from earlier exercises, making the lesson more dynamic and practical.

Apply these principles when using other materials as well.

We assign levels to adult students based on a placement test that assesses grammar knowledge, vocabulary range, comprehension, and speaking fluency. All group and company students also complete an oral placement test.

Here's a guide to help with assessing the level: Description of English Levels

For young learners, levels are verified during their first lesson instead of through a formal test. We also rely on teachers to further assess each student’s level throughout the initial lessons.

Individual Courses

In your first lesson with a student, it’s important to assess their true proficiency level, beyond what the platform suggests. Once you have a clearer understanding of their strengths and areas for improvement, complete the planned lesson and take time to reflect afterward.

For individual students, you can adjust their level and materials to better match their skills and abilities. With company students, however, their level has already been formally assessed, so rather than changing the level, consider adapting your approach: adjust your language, focus on specific activities, allow more or less time for responses, and tailor the lesson pace to suit their needs.

Group Courses

The principles above also apply to group courses, though it can be more challenging due to varying proficiency levels among students. Some may be more confident, while others may excel in grammar or other specific areas.

Teaching a group with mixed proficiency requires a balanced approach. Start by identifying the range of abilities within the group, and aim to challenge the more advanced learners while providing extra support to those who need it.

If the differences in level are too significant, please report this to our team with a suggested solution. It may be that a student needs to switch groups, or that the overall level of the group needs adjusting.