How To Engage Students In ESL Classes

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As willing as a teacher might be, she cannot teach, until and unless students are interested in learning and this is even more so relevant when it comes to ESL classes. Engaging students is always a challenging task for teachers, however until and unless they are able to generate attention of disciples, purpose of teaching remains unfulfilled. ESL i.e. English as a Second Language poses various challenges for the teachers, because often there are subjects requiring lengthy hours for contemplation and mastering.

The required dedication standards are high and thus even the most intrigued students tend to get disengaged. For an ESL teacher, how to engage students is a question which frequently props up. In fact on many occasions’ bored students tend to misbehave, which lead to further issues. Thus if there could be ways to keep the students engaged and involved, such issues can be handled.

1. Base all case studies and questions and activities on topics which interest students in your class. It could even be a movie magazine. After all your purpose is to work on diction, vocabulary and related subjects and not essentially to provide info on intellectual matters and thus anything which is of interest can suffice. In fact taking up entertainment based subjects for teaching will keep up the interest levels amongst students pursuing ESL classes.

2. Keep changing the reference material. This is to say that while students enjoyed a movie discussion on day I, same should not be repeated week after week. A change of subject will keep the students engaged. Also not all students will fancy the popular topics. Maybe in some of your classes, the favorites might not work and thus you will have to work at understanding interest of all.

3. While teaching, take up routine activities as learning exercise. For example if a student needs apply for a loan, use it as a case study and work with all to frame the loan application. Likewise if somebody is to fill the form, discuss the questions in class. Encourage all to bring their personal language related queries to class and thus by solving them, keep up the interest levels.

4. Out of classroom learning works in all subjects including ESL. The change is welcomed by all and this break from the routine really helps garner interest. You could visit a super market and do a mock on shopping and conversing in the language. To master the language, this regular communication is very important.

5. Create plays out of subject matter. Assign a part to each student, who would then recite the excerpt in a poetic way or as a story. The task can be completed in groups as well. Likewise for information in series, create envelops for different parts and let the students arrange them in ascending or descending order.

6. Arrange group discussions and debates. The topics will again be those which are liked by students. During discussions, promote all to bring in reference materials as evidences to support what they say. This will enhance verbal communication and researching skills and thus engage students during ESL classes.

Photo Credit: Bodwell.edu