Creativity and Motivation in the Classroom with Teacher Language Development
Keeping students engaged and motivated in the classroom can be challenging. We want students to work hard and focus on language improvement, but we also want them to have fun. When we can do both at the same time, we have magic! Here are some ideas to help achieve this.
1. Use real examples
Whether choosing texts to present new language, writing examples of structures on the board or giving speaking practice, using example that connect to the student’s actual lives will help the students to see the relevance to their own lives and will naturally be more motivating.
2. The importance of pair work
Use communication and pair work wherever possible in the classroom. Not only for speaking activities but also for sharing answers, peer-feedback and prediction activities.
3. Play games
Use games to bring a competitive element to the classroom can be fun and motivating for learners.
4. Personalize the lessons
Make the lessons special for each student by using their interests, hobbies, or experiences to engage them more.
5. Make the aims clear
Help your students achieve the lesson aims by making it clear at the start of the lesson what the aims are. This allows the students to see if they have achieved the aims at the end of the lesson. The aim of each stage can also be shared with the students so they understand exactly why they are doing an activity. Understanding how the activity will help them is very motivating!
6. Give feedback
Students enjoy feedback so give them quick feedback on what they did well and what they need to work on. Use positive words to encourage them.
7. Learn about the culture
Teach students about the culture of the language they are learning and its progress over time linking it to history and the British Empire and Colonies. You can have guests come and talk, bring in food, music, or other things that show the culture. Malta was a British colony for almost 200 years making English an official language of the island together with Maltese.
8. Work together
Have students work on projects together or let them teach each other – collaborative learning. This will make learning feel like a team effort.
9. Use technology
Use technology like videos, quizzes, or online tools to make the lessons more interesting and vary the content.
10. Have fun
All students want to have fun and enjoy themselves. Make learning fun! Use humour, playfulness, and other fun things to keep students interested and engaged.
In essence, teaching English as a foreign language can be fun and interesting. This will help students learn better and remain engaged. By using real examples, talking and working together, playing games, personalising the lessons, setting goals, giving feedback, learning about the culture, working together, using technology, and having fun, you can make the lessons enjoyable and successful.
EASY School of Languages is committed towards collaborative learning and making lessons engaging in class. Malta allows students a full immersion experience where they can continue using English out of class with their friends on social activities as they explore the island’s cast history and culture.
We welcome you to our Teacher training course – “Creativity and Motivation in the Classroom with Teacher Language Development”, where we shall find ways to engage students better to motivate them learn English in an engaging way.