Chapter 23: Ten Ways to Liven Up an English Lesson 337
Students can do their research online instead of using a dictionary or
depending on you. In addition, they can interact with other people in selected
chat rooms and discussion forums. It gives students a thrill to know that
outsiders understand their English too and that they can post information in
their new found second language for all the world to see.
If you have internet access in the classroom, or if you have taken your class
to the Information Technology room as part of your lesson, it is your
responsibility to make sure that students are not looking at offensive websites.
Start a Project
There comes a time when students want to take more control of their learn-
ing. Perhaps your students have their own interests which they would like to
explore in English – anything from football, movies, music, fashion and more.
Whatever their interest, it is liberating for students to do a presentation or
wall display around it then share their efforts with their classmates.
You can also have student tackle projects in small groups with each student
adopting a different role. Teenagers, for example, often enjoy putting together a
class magazine with a wide variety of articles, interviews, surveys and artwork.
Establish a regular time for sharing or preparing project work. Make it part of
the class routine.
Let the Students Teach
English lessons tend to follow the same pattern: teachers teach and students
practise. But for a change, how about giving the students the board pens and
seeing how well they rise to the challenge?
There are always restless individuals who struggle to sit still and listen. And
what about those know-alls who interrupt you at every turn? Well, these
students are ideal candidates for a bit of role reversal. Or, you could give all
the students a chance to have a go by giving everyone a 10 minute teaching
slot over several lessons.
Students don’t need to teach the whole class; more timid students can teach
their partner or a small group.
To be fair, you need to back up whatever they teach by thorough checks and
feedback sessions.
