Teach English in Xiagezhuang Zhen - Qingdao Shi

Teaching is a challenging yet rewarding experience. A majority of the young learners today are full of energy and enthusiasm. On the other hand, adult learners have a sense of purpose as they do their best to meet their goals while contributing their personal and work-related experience to an ESL class. However, things aren’t as simple as one would think. Children tend to get too excited and troublesome. Teens aren’t as expressive and are typically shy around ESL teachers. In some cases, some children and teens have no interest learning the English language. Instead, they would waste time either by ignoring lessons or amusing themselves by disrupting the class. Motivating students can be a tough task for any teacher. The task gets tougher when the lessons taught are mostly met with blank stares or students responding to you with “I don’t know,” “Yes,” or “No.” It gets more frustrating when their boredom in class is fueled by their lack of interest in the language. These days, research and observation has played a big role in motivating students to learn the English language. With the presence of the internet and a keen eye on the current state of each class, enabling students to look forward to each class won’t be as troublesome as one would think. The first motivator in class is gauging interest. When a teacher senses a “topic” that attracts the attention of students, then there’s no stopping to add more “fuel” to the “fire.” Today’s generation are a chock full of issues and resources that would make everyone from the corners of the Earth to speak out. As a teacher, it’s important to understand that building a connection with students is key. For children, playing an upbeat melody, doing something interesting, or making them laugh can help ease the tension in the classroom. For teens and adults, talking about the latest craze, social issues, or something that everyone is well aware of can be excellent starting points to get students in the same level of engagement. Another way to motivate students is by incorporating competitiveness in the classroom. If children, teens, and adults can play video games on their phones or consoles, then it’s never a bad idea to include competitive-friendly games in the classroom. When students go toe to toe with each other, it will naturally motivate them to repeat what was being learned in order for them to reach that “reward” at the end of each game. It’s important to incorporate games suitable within their learning level to achieve a class-friendly and competitive atmosphere. Learning should be fun and the use of games that foster learning is critical for the development of students regardless of their learning ability. Lastly, exploiting the talents and skills of each student is an excellent motivator to make classes fun. Whether it’s a young student who is artistically inclined, or an adult who loves to sing, or a teen who can do magic tricks, utilizing such innate resources will make it easier for students to showcase their abilities. For instance, a student who can draw pictures can use his talent to depict an English story that was read in class. A student who can sing can lead other students to sing English lyrics from an upbeat song. A student who can do magic tricks can make English-based flash cards disappear and reappear. Not only will these help students showcase their skills, but it also encourages others participate while learning the English language at the same time. When children are highly motivated, it becomes an enriching experience for both the ESL students and ESL teacher. When a teacher recognizes the importance of interest, class-friendly competition, and talent within the class, it will no longer lead to blank stares or reluctant answers. Instead, a teacher will notice a room full of eagerness and happy faces.