Keep different learning styles in mind
As all language teachers are aware, catering to an individual’s linguistic needs and preferences is essential for learning. If, for example, we are preparing students for a speaking task where they describe an interesting building they have seen, to appeal to visual learners, the lead-in could be a short video showing some of the world's most unusual buildings.
Students choose their favourite building and talk about it in pairs. Next, we could expose students to some building-related vocabulary through live listening or a recording, to appeal to auditory learners. A matching or gap-fill exercise could be given as controlled practice to engage more analytical students. Groups can then be asked to design an interesting building of their own (either by drawing or crafting it out of materials). The groups then prepare a short presentation on their design, employing vocabulary from the lesson. An ‘art gallery’ could be set up, with students walking around and voting for the most imaginative building design.
These types of activities make for a lively and informative English lesson that favour no one type of learner over another.
Create DIY exam tasks
To rev up language assessment preparation lessons, get students to create their own tasks and test their peers. Learners have a go at open cloze using dictionaries or grammar books to find gap words with a specific lexico-grammatical focus such as articles, prepositions, auxiliary verbs or linkers. Ensure there is actual discussion and negotiation around the choices the students make when creating and solving the exercises, followed by teacher feedback on any problematic language areas.
So there you have it! Livening up your English classroom will definitely bring some vibrancy to lessons, creating more enjoyment for both yourself and your students.
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