Our number one goal as language teachers is to help our students communicate in the real world. Inviting guest speakers into the classroom is a fantastic way to bring learning to life and provide authentic language practice opportunities. 

In this post, I'll explore the benefits of guest speakers, share some ideas for who to invite, and give you some top tips for scaffolding the sessions. 

The benefits of guest speakers

Throughout my years as a language teacher, I jumped at every opportunity to have a guest speaker in the classroom. I always found that students benefited from what the guests had to say and the opportunities that they offered.

Here's why: 

Guest speakers are inspiring

Everyone has a story to tell. Bringing someone new into the classroom to share their experiences can be powerful. There are limitless options for who to invite and what information and ideas they might share with learners.

• A previous student may give learners the confidence to know that one day they too could reach a high level of English proficiency.
• A storyteller might give students the skills to share their experiences with the world.
• An employment agency representative might transform a learner's career path. 

I could go on! But I'm sure you'll agree that having the opportunity to connect in this way can open minds, share possibilities, and get heads away from dwelling on perfecting their use of the passive voice!

Guest speakers can offer opportunities 

As teachers, we can equip learners with language and communication skills. Our role is to support learners to achieve their English language learning goals. 

But behind every language learning goal, there is a wider goal—perhaps to get into university, secure a better job, or support their kids with schoolwork after resettling in an English-speaking country. 

Local and global organizations are often looking for ways to connect with language learners. Universities and colleges may want to recruit for their classes. Community groups may be looking for volunteers to look after their grounds or get involved in cooking lessons. Other language classes at the other side of the world may be looking for pen pals. 

Each of these is an opportunity to practice English, open new doors, and create social connections. 

Guest speakers are REAL 

Richard Cauldwell's "botanic" metaphor for language learning springs to mind here. He described the classroom as a "geenhouse"—a safe space for growth where conditions are controlled and every student is nurtured to flourish. In the "garden," students experience more independence to practice their language in a safe environment through freer practice. Lastly, in the "jungle," students are released into the real world where they experience the wild organic world of fast speech, slang, idiomatic language, and unfamiliar accents. 

Inviting a guest speaker is a chance to let students venture into the jungle with a supportive guide at their side. The speaker may not be well practiced in modifying their language usage to be understood, so learners may need to work harder and push themselves to new levels in order to communicate successfully.   

Who to invite

The guest speakers you choose to invite depend on your learning context, location, and learners' needs. In some ways, this could be simpler if you teach in an English-speaking country. However, you could also invite people to deliver an input session online, show pre-recorded videos, or use emails/letters.

Here are some guest speakers that you may wish to consider: 

Previous students

There is nothing more rewarding than re-connecting with a previous student and discovering that they have opened their own restaurant, written a book, started working in a retirement center, or gotten an opportunity to teach in a preschool.

For learners, hearing true stories from relatable individuals who have similar stories to them helps them believe in themselves. It can also support them to make plans and set their own goals. 

Representatives from educational organizations

Universities and colleges often have teams specifically for engaging with potential students. If students are thinking of applying, consider inviting a representative in to talk them through the process. 

This can be helpful in introducing learners to the application system, course requirements, and other aspects of further and higher education. 

These speakers are particularly useful if you are teaching workplace English, such as career-specific pathway courses:

• English for Nursing Assistants
• English for Pharmacy Technicians
• English for Dental Assistants
• English for Phlebotomists
• English for Paraeducators 
• English for Custodians 
• English for Emergency Medical Technicians  
• English for Medical Assistants

The tricky part may be finding an interest that the class shares. However, application systems can be similar across organizations and every guest is a language learning experience. 

Community Organizers

Charities and nonprofit organizations often have funding to deliver projects or engage with the wider community. Look out for opportunities online and by joining email lists and connecting with local (and global) potential partners. 

I always remember a particularly fun partnership with a local museum. Students got to attend a variety of workshops exploring diverse cultures and religions around the world and telling their own stories. They all loved getting out of the classroom and learned a lot from the immersive experience. One learner even went on to volunteer with the museum. 

Potential employers

Large employers are always looking for staff and often have recruitment teams or apprenticeships. Reaching out to speakers who would like to find new employees can help learners find the right opportunities for them. 

It can also be helpful to connect with recruitment agencies or charitable organizations that provide training. 

Here's some further reading on this topic: 

• How to Teach Workplace Engish
• Why You Should Teach Workplace English

Creatives

It can be a lot of fun to invite someone to deliver a creative workshop or project with learners. This way students can practice their language whilse developing their life skills and critical thinking. 

Consider inviting people to: 

• perform a play, song, story (and have students perform their own)
• read/write poetry
• create a piece of artwork
• learn how to sketchnote 
• explore topics of global importance
• start a community garden
• write and publish a magazine

Other teachers

It can sometimes be challenging to find the right guest speaker and convince them to join your class. Teaming up with other classes and teachers can be a good way to add some energy to classes and try something new. This can be particularly beneficial towards the end of term, when class numbers inevitably drop as students sneak away on vacation! 

Top tips for successful guest sessions

Guest speakers are fantastic for so many reasons. However, I learned the hard way that they can be challenging to understand. 

The first thing English language teachers learn to do is modify our language use to be as intelligible as possible. 

Guest speakers often don't know these simple tricks—or they know the theory but haven't mastered the practice! 

Before a session, it is wise to remind speakers (even and especially previous learners) to slow down, choose simpler words, and avoid regional language. Here's a sketchnote I created that you could share with them. 

You can share this sketchnote easily via this LinkedIn post. 

It is also a good idea to come up with strategies with the speaker in advance to engage students and ensure that they can follow along:

• pause at regular intervals and ask concept check questions to review and make sure students have understood
• take (sketch)notes on the whiteboard as the speaker is presenting so students can have visual support
• scaffold the visit by pre-teaching vocabulary or previewing content (e.g., slides) 
• review the session after the visit and invite questions or further explorations

Have you invited any guests into your classroom? Who did you invite? How did it go? What are your top tips? We'd love to know! 

Here are some related blog posts we think you'll love: 

• Tips & Resources to Make Content More Accessible in STEM Subjects
• Inspiring English Learners with Story Prompts