Use concept questions to make sure students understand every aspect of sentences. For example, if the sentence being checked is "The dog is eating his food," some concept questions could be "Is the dog finished eating?" or "Is this past, present or future?" or "Does the food belong to another dog?" Concept questions can be used at any point during lessons and are especially useful after you explain a new grammar model or vocabulary word.
After you give students instructions, tell them to give instructions in their own words to a partner. If you have told students, for example, to write their names at the bottom of their worksheets, ask them to instruct their partners to do the same and to show one another where the bottom of the worksheet is. As you listen for accuracy and watch the students, make sure they are not pointing to the top of the page, etc.
Ask students to give examples of the concept being learned. If the lesson is about holidays, ask them to tell you which holidays are celebrated in their country of origin. If you are not familiar with the holiday, ask students to explain it to you, so that you can make sure it is a day that is celebrated and remembered by the general public, rather than a birthday or anniversary.
Give students multiple-choice questions to follow every reading assignment. Even for a simple paragraph to be read in class, create a few multiple-choice questions that rephrase what the paragraph says. The more you challenge students' understanding in class, the more equipped and comfortable they will be when test day arrives.