Teach English in Ximo Zhen - Yuncheng Shi

The way a teacher manages the classroom has a profound impact on students’ ability to learn. A disengaged, unenthusiastic, or disorganized teacher can make student learning much more difficult than it needs to be. This essay will outline three important ways a teacher can have a positive impact on their students through establishing rapport, being physically engaging, and giving clear instructions. Whether in a new class or an established class, it’s important to build rapport with students so they feel comfortable in the classroom. This can be done with a few simple techniques and actions. First and foremost, a teacher should be positive. When students enter the room, a teacher should smile and greet them an upbeat way. The teacher should behave like they are excited to be in class. In the video lesson examples, the teacher was upbeat and positive in one video and dull and negative in the other video, which substantially affected the students. It is also useful to call students by their names. Using students’ names can be used to acknowledge a student, organize and activity, or just to get their attention. To build rapport it can also be helpful to personalize activities to fit the students needs and interests. For example, if a teacher knows that their students are interested in sports, it would be a good idea to build a lesson around sports, to create interest in the lesson and to create an opportunity for the students to learn more about each other. If the teacher successfully builds report with their students, the students are much more likely to be engaged, comfortable, and willing to learn. A good teacher will work to build and maintain rapport throughout the duration of the course. How a teacher comports themselves in a classroom sends a clear message to students. If they are relaxed, engaging, and enthusiastic, students are much more likely to feel and behave in a similar way. There are a few way a teacher’s physicality can positively affect student learning. The simplest step is eye contact. Eye contact can communicate shared involvement in a lesson, encourage responses, and hold the attention of students who aren’t being addressed. It’s the best way to non-verbally let students know that they are a part of the lesson and that they are seen by the teacher. A teacher’s tone also has big implications in the classroom. In the video lesson examples, the teacher’s voice was dull and monotone in one lesson and varied and vibrant in another video. This greatly affected how much, and how confidently the students participated in the lesson. A voice with variation, enthusiasm, and appropriate volume will naturally engage students in the lesson. Another technique for engaging students in gesturing. Gesturing can make instructions feel more dynamic, reduce the need for verbal instructions, liven up a lesson, and even help convey the meaning of the language. These physical behaviors help to engage students in all aspects of the lesson which will positivity impact their learning. A third way that classroom management can affect student learning is how the teacher give instructions. As we saw in the video lesson examples, if the instruction lacks context, clarity, or concision, students will end up confused and unsure of how to begin the lesson. There are a few simple steps a teacher can take to make sure their instructions are understandable for their students. The easiest way to give clear instructions is to use simple language. The teacher should use language at or below the students’ current language level. The instructions should be clear and concise, so the students don’t get confused. In addition to using simple language, the teacher can also incorporate visual cues like real objects, writing simple instructions on the board, or using gestures. After clear instructions have been given with the help of visual cues, the teacher can check for student understanding before starting the lesson. The teacher could ask a student to repeat back the lesson instructions before moving forward to ensure that the instructions are clear. These simple steps make a huge difference in making sure students understand what is being asked of them so they can effectively participate in the lesson. As discussed above, classroom management has a big impact on student learning. A good instructor understands that they must always be positive, constructive, and considerate towards their students. By building rapport, being physically engaging, and giving clear instructions, a teacher can create an environment where students feel welcome, encouraged, and supported.