1. Make regular checks
Watch the students carefully to check that they understand. Check by looking at the students' faces. You can see whether they follow your meaning or not. (Do not keep asking 'Do you understand?' because this makes students feel that they should understand more and consequently makes them feel insecure.) Remember students also adopt strategies. They may say 'yes' when they don't understand anything!
2. Use familiar words
Use mainly words which the students already know, or cognates - words which have a similar sound and meaning in their mother tongue.
3. Use familiar topics
Refer to topics which are familiar to the students from their everyday lives, from earlier lessons, or from lessons in other subjects.
4. Lower the cognition level
Avoid topics or concepts which students would find difficult to understand even in their mother tongue!
5. Recycle information
Repeat yourself using the same words as before, or paraphrase, to give the students a second chance to understand.
6. Alter your style of speech
Speak slightly slower than normal (as if you were speaking to a very large group of people) and exaggerate your intonation and stress on important words. Pause frequently to allow 'slow listeners' to catch up. (Regular pauses after sentence groups are more important than slow speech!)
7. Simplify the language structure
Slightly simplify your range of structures when speaking and make sure you repeat the structures you use.
8. Use a range of sensory focus
Support what you say with pictures, words or phrases on the blackboard, gestures, actions and facial expressions. Make sure that the students can see your face and mouth whenever you speak!