Very good is a fine thing to say, right up until it's the only thing you ever say. A child who hears it ten times a lesson stops hearing it at all, and it lands like a bell going off. Having a range of praise isn't a luxury. It's what keeps praise worth something, and it's one more channel of real English your class gets to hear for free every day.
The Phrases, Grouped by What They Do
- Quick, everyday praise: Good job! Well done! Nice work! Excellent! Perfect!
- Praise that names the effort: Good try! You worked hard! You did not give up! Much better than yesterday!
- Praise aimed at the work itself: Beautiful handwriting! I like your picture! Your answer is correct! What a great idea!
- Praise that lifts the whole room: Give me five! Clap for your friend! Round of applause!
The Principle That Matters More Than the Words: Praise the Effort, Not the Talent
A child who is always told they're clever starts to dread the hard task, because there's a title to lose. A child praised for the effort, You worked hard!, will reach for the hard task instead, because what got noticed was the trying and not the result. Mindset research has been saying this for years, and it maps straight onto the praise you give in an English lesson.
One small habit that pays off: when a child puts a hand up and gets it wrong, give them a Good try! as loud as the one you give a right answer. The class that isn't afraid of being wrong is the class where every hand goes up.