When we, teachers, stand in front of our students and deliver our course, we are not always aware of the techniques we use. As we all have had practicums, we have had models to learn from. For example, basic techniques such as writing ideas shared by the class on the board is called Black Board Share. Moreover, if we merely ask students to share opinions, or ideas on a subject in teams of 4, we use a technique called Heads Together. The recognition of the techniques, although not immediate sometimes, can be easily done if we take the time to look at the methods to do the techniques. I am pretty sure doing so will also help teachers or future teachers to come up with techniques they didn't use often as well.

Could you name techniques you use as a teacher or techniques you've seen a teacher use often with his students?

The choice of techniques that the teacher uses in the classroom depends on the teaching goal. Different techniques can be effective in the context of different teaching/learning situations, look for example this source: http://www.eslbase.com/resources/ideas/teaching-ideas . However, most of the techniques are quite universal. Here are some of them that teachers can use in an ESL classroom:

1. All sorts of visuals. Both teaching and learning process are more effective with the visual support. Teachers can use graphs, pictures, word cards, maps, videos, etc to maximize the creation of the links in students’ brain between the word and the idea, notion, object that it is related to. Students can actively use the visuals, such as mind-maps, outlines, plans, lists, pictures, photos etc.

2. Active and creative interaction. Children are fond of performing. From time to time I try to use this quality in my pedagogic practice. We do this work at least once a week. I divide students into small groups of 2-3 persons. I give them a topic. First it could be the plot well-known to them (‘Little Red Riding Hood’, ‘The Three Little Pigs’ etc.). Later the topics of the plays get more sophisticated. Their first task is to write the script of the play. Usually it’s a home task for a group of 2-3. I let their imagination run away. Then they perform it in class. The results are incredible! This work stimulates their creativity so much! And of course it teaches them how to interact and work cooperatively in groups.

3. Peer correction of the homework. This technique increases students’ linguistic awareness. They have an opportunity to check one more time their understanding of the subject or a grammar rule. They exchange the roles with the teacher for a certain period of time that is entertaining. It motivates and maximizes the use of English in the class communication. This technique is also good for the teacher because it helps to save time on the corrections and allows the teacher to correct the homework everyday and give the students immediate feedback without making them waiting for a week when they forget even what they wrote in their task and why.

4. Story telling. One of the best reinvestment of the learning material for me. No matter what is the grammar or lexical material or the topic, ask them to tell or retell the story, or to share their personal story, view or experience. Here is the link to an interesting listening/speaking story telling activity: http://www.eslbase.com/articles/story-telling
Even at the primary level, you can use a variation of the same technique – “show and tell”. Ask your student to bring an object and to tell a story about it. Encourage them with questions.

5. Give your students tasks that are pertinent to their cultural and person
al experiences. Make them practise English language through exploring different foreign cultures. Students understand that English is not something abstract, but the real means to express themselves, to learn and share information about something interesting, entertaining, new, funny or strange. Something that they can discuss afterwards with their friends of family. They can see a clear practical purpose that motivates their learning - communication. Learn with your students the lyrics of some contemporary songs. Discuss the movie that they’ve just watched in the cinema. Give them a topic that will really cause the discussion and ideas exchange. Here you can find an interesting examples that can inspire the conversation in your classroom about the topics: the most unusual or strangest thing I've ever eaten, a date with a famous person, etc: http://www.eslbase.com/articles/esl-conversation

6. Use information technologies. DVDs, videos, Internet, forums, chats, online tours in museums, animation, games, PowerPoint presentations etc.

I hope some of the ideas could be useful.

For my part, I use visuals and gestures.
I mostly work with children during summer ( I work in a summer camp with french kids that want to learn english) and the most effective technique is visual cues and gestures.
When I walk with the kids in the forest and I explain a game I have little flash cards not bigger than a play card and I sometimes show what I say as I explain. If I use action words I do them as I speak also.
Examples are also good with children and teenagers. If you explain a game or a homework, giving examples is crutial. Model it with them and you won't need to speak F1 at all.

it is pretty interesting to have read this thread:)