Keeping students motivated in class

Planning your classes beforehand is an important factor to keeping your little- or not so little- ones motivated and interested in class. But, sometimes, giving  them an extra goal can work miracles.

In my case, I like to use candy. Extra points might work too but you always have that one student or two who couldn't care less about their grades. In that case, your efforts will probably not have the desired results.

As you can see in this picture, I get a bit too excited. Kids or adults are not that judgemental, so just a normal piece of candy. I offered a seven-year-old student I had some time ago to choose his prize from this assortment of candy  and (not ashamed to show his disappointment at all), he asked me if I just had a normal lollipop. I was apalled. So the K.I.S.S. it rule from my last Post applies here as well :-) 

How can you use candy in class? you might be wondering. 

1. First, to get them to speak only English in class. 

Specially in ESL classes where all the students have the same mother tongue, it is easy for them to fall into talking only that language or try to translate everything. If speaking English the whole class is too difficult at first, try starting with 20 minutes (kept with a timer). Let them know that you will be keeping time and that ANY word in Spanish, French, or whichever language they speak will take them back to zero. If they make it, they'll get to choose a piece of candy. 

2. Second, play games with hidden English. 

People learn best when they are having fun. Take out a Jeopardy, Guess who, Jenga and offer a piece of candy as reward. 

3. Third, award completion.

Of course, there are always groups in which one person seems to win every game. Changing game dynamics to fit other students' strengths is always a good idea. You don't want to get that one student to draw away instead of getting motivated. Awarding completion is a good alternative. Ask them to do an extra assignment and award those students who make that extra effort. This can apply to adults as well. Ask them to write about a particular topic you have been covering in class. For example, if what you have been looking at is Infinitives and reading about goals! you could ask them to write a Bucket List with a minimum of 15 sentences using "I want to...". Those who bring it the next class, get a reward for it. 

-Beff :-)