Co-Teaching In The EFL Classroom

You may not have realised this, but when you eagerly signed up to teach abroad, you may have been signing up to be a co-teacher, rather than the only teacher in the classroom! 

Surprise! 

For some, this may be a conundrum; others take it in their stride. 

But where does co-teaching begin and end? Does it start when you step into the classroom ready to teach a lesson? Or does it start before, at the planning stage? 

Knowing the difference is key to successful collaboration between EFL teachers and their co-teachers. But there’s more to know, like what’s expected of you, how to be a good teaching partner and whether co-teaching is ultimately for you. 

So let’s get into it! What is co-teaching and what strategies for co-teaching work in the EFL classroom?

Read more: What To Expect In A TEFL Contract

What is co-teaching?

At the very least, it means that there are two teachers in the classroom at the same time. After all, you can’t co-teach if there is no-one to co-teach with!

But what does this look like in practice? Let’s look at a few co-teaching models in practice.

A teacher and an assistant

Here there are two variations. There’s a teacher and an assistant, but it differs as to who’s who.

Option 1: The TEFL teacher takes care of lesson planning and resource collection. The assistant is usually a local teacher who speaks the local language, plus English. 

Option 2: The TEFL teacher assists the local teacher. The local teacher is the one who takes care of lesson prep.

Either way, the main teacher walks the assistant through the lesson plan, and they teach it together, with the main teacher taking the lead. The assistant helps with the logistics of the activities. 

Team teaching

In this scenario, both teachers are equal in the classroom. This means that neither takes the lead. Lesson planning is a joint task; the teachers decide who teaches what and when. 

This could also be both teachers working simultaneously in different parts of the classroom, leading separate activities, with students alternating between teachers. 

Read more: 5 Common Problems In The EFL Classroom

The advantages of co-teaching

Recent research has revealed that inexperienced teachers are often ignorant to student needs and classroom culture  and inflexible in their planning, sticking strictly to the curriculum. 

Having a co-teacher present bridges the cultural gap for TEFL teachers by helping them get to know local customs and how these play out in the classroom. This is just one of several benefits of having a co-teacher. Here are a few more: 

The co-teacher acts as a mentor for the foreign teacher to model themselves on. Fake it till you make it!

I am extremely fortunate to have been placed with a kind-hearted, supportive and witty main co-teacher. She has been a living example of much of the theory I learned during my TEFL course. – Bronwyn, in South Korea

Classroom management is easier. Typically, it’s handled by the local teacher (especially in countries like South Korea and Japan), but the duty may be shared. Splitting the role can help with noise control and keeping energetic students focused, especially in larger classes. 

…[W]hen it comes to the classroom, there’s usually a Vietnamese Teaching Assistant to help with classroom management or translation, especially with very Young Learners. TAs are a big help. – Timea, in Vietnam

Read more: Things To Know About South Korean Classroom Culture

Bronwyn and Timea in their classrooms

Shared lesson planning means more time to rest, prep and connect with your students. 

Co-teaching gives you a break from constant talking. Say goodbye to that end-of-day croaky voice. This is particularly helpful when you have a packed teaching schedule. 

A second set of eyes and ears is a major plus for students since it means more explanations, more answers, and more chances to be heard.

Different teaching styles can be a strength. For example, when one teacher focuses on accuracy, the other can address fluency and pronunciation. 

Read more: Accuracy And Fluency: What’s The Big Deal?

Regular feedback on your teaching helps you refine your methods and grow as an educator. 

Students have another teacher to turn to — great if one of the teachers is busy.

The teacher assistants have been very helpful by comforting [the students] when they cry, taking them to the washroom, braiding the girls’ hair and offering them water when they shout out for it. I simply wouldn’t be able to pull off the job without their help. – Richard, in Cambodia

The local teacher can act as a translator, aiding understanding where needed. This means lessons will flow more smoothly. 

I would lead the lesson, and my co-teacher would translate when needed. – Ben, in South Korea

It’s easier to do more involved activities, since both teachers can monitor what’s happening and make sure nothing gets missed.

My head English teacher split her classes in half, rotating the groups so I worked with each one for 30 minutes at a time. She taught the school’s EFL curriculum, which focused on reading and writing within themed units, while I created speaking and listening lessons that coordinated with each theme. – Marie, in Chile

It can be fun! 

Read more: What You Should Know About Anticipating English Language Learner Problems

Richard and Marie with their students

The drawbacks of co-teaching

As with anything, there’s a flipside. Working with a teaching partner has its benefits, but it can comes with unforeseen challenges like communication, roles, and teamwork. 

Common difficulties you might encounter when co-teaching:

Unclear roles and responsibilities can cause confusion about who handles what during lessons.

Poor communication can make teamwork less smooth and affect lesson flow. 

More communication is required to accommodate different teaching styles so that teachers can work well together. This can feel tedious due to language barriers and cultural differences. 

Building a strong partnership takes time and effort — it might feel awkward at first.

Students might see one teacher as more important than the other if both teachers aren’t treated as equals and shown the same level of respect. 

Lesson planning is challenging when not done together, which can make lessons feel disconnected.

Co-teaching can be difficult to manage, especially in busy or larger classrooms.

Knowing the drawbacks is a must if you are going to turn a challenging co-teaching situation around. Going in with eyes wide open can help you face potential issues head-on and make co-teaching work for you. 

Read more: Guidelines For Using The Mother Tongue In The EFL Classroom

Co-teaching tips

Co-teaching can be tricky — sharing a classroom isn’t always natural, and it can leave both teachers feeling a little off balance, even insecure. So how do you turn an awkward pairing into a strong, effective teaching team?

• Choose a co-teaching model before class.

Decide who’s leading, assisting, or if you’re splitting the lesson.

Change it up. You don’t have to use the same co-teaching model every time. Being on the same page is what matters most. 

• Communicate often and clearly.

Use inclusive language. For example, replace “my” with “our” when referring to students. 

Keep each other in the loop about lesson changes, student concerns, or teaching roles.

Exchange ideas and work on teaching strategies together. 

• Respect one another.

This is a necessary part of a good working relationship. 

Make room for different teaching styles and use them as a learning opportunity.

• Plan lessons together.

Co-plan lessons to avoid confusion in the classroom.

Make sure your (and your co-teacher’s) creativity is included and valued.

• Be supportive outside of the classroom. 

Offer to assist with administrative tasks and other responsibilities, like playground duty, for example, to help build rapport with your co-teacher. Kindness is hard to ignore.

• Be flexible when teaching.

When things stray from the plan, be ready to think on your feet and have each other’s backs. 

It also shows students great teamwork in action.

  Read more: Teachable Moments In The EFL Classroom

• Reflect on your experiences. 

Regular reflection can help you spot what’s working, what’s not, and how to improve your teamwork moving forward.

• Use signposting in the classroom. 

Both teachers’ names should be seen and heard in the classroom. This means calling each other by name during lessons and making them visible on classroom displays so students recognise both of you as equals.

Overall, co-teaching has more benefits than challenges when viewed as a partnership. A good co-teaching relationship won’t happen overnight, so exercise patience. Eventually, you will find your rhythm. 

When done correctly, co-teaching is an amazing asset for your students by boosting support, creativity, learning and engagement in the classroom.