What Teaching ESL Has Taught Me About Gratitude

When I first started teaching English, I expected to spend most of my time talking about grammar rules and vocabulary lists. What I didn’t expect was how often I would learn something myself, especially about gratitude.

As ESL teachers, we often give a lot of our time and energy to help others. Yet, in return, we also occasionally receive reminders of appreciation, kindness, and joy that can easily go unnoticed if we don’t pause to reflect.

Gratitude in the classroom

One of the most striking things about teaching is the small moments of appreciation. A student saying “thank you” after finally grasping a tricky phrase. A smile when they realise they can express a feeling in English they couldn’t before. Or even a message months later telling you how your lessons helped them succeed at work or travel abroad.

These moments may feel small, but they carry weight. The real value of teaching lies as much in human connection as in language skills.

What teaching ESL has shown me about gratitude

I’ve realised through teaching that gratitude becomes real when we put it into practice. My students often come to class tired from work, juggling family responsibilities, and sometimes feeling nervous about speaking. Yet, they show up with energy and effort, and that in itself is an act of gratitude for the opportunity to learn.

I’ve also learnt that expressing gratitude builds trust in the classroom. When I thank my students for their effort or acknowledge their progress, they often mirror that positivity. It creates a cycle where appreciation becomes part of the learning atmosphere.

Teaching gratitude as language

Gratitude is also a fantastic theme for language lessons. Teaching words such as appreciation, contentment, generosity, and joy not only builds vocabulary but also gives learners the chance to reflect on their own lives.

In one of my recent Gratitude & Joy ESL lesson plans, students practised phrasal verbs like reach out and give back, as well as idioms like count your blessings and spread the love. They aren’t only language points, they’re ways of expressing genuine feelings and moments.

Activities such as writing a short gratitude journal entry in English, sharing an act of kindness they’ve experienced, or discussing how gratitude is expressed in their culture often lead to some of the most heartfelt and memorable classroom conversations.

The wellbeing connection

It’s no surprise that gratitude is closely linked to wellbeing. Studies suggest that people who regularly practise gratitude feel less stressed and more optimistic. As teachers, this is something we can model for our students. A few minutes of reflection at the end of a lesson can leave both teacher and student with a positive mindset.

For teachers, practising gratitude also helps manage stress and maintain perspective. It’s easy to get caught up in marking or lesson prep, but remembering those small moments of appreciation can keep us motivated.

Final thoughts

Teaching ESL has shown me that gratitude is less about what’s written in a textbook and more about what happens in class: the smiles, the thank-yous, the shared experiences. By weaving gratitude into our teaching, we not only give our students new words but also help them recognise the value of kindness, appreciation, and connection.

If you’d like ready-made activities that bring these ideas into your lessons, take a look at our Gratitude & Joy ESL lesson plan, designed to spark meaningful conversations and build both language and wellbeing.