What strategies do you use to help shy or reluctant students participate in class discussions?
Working with students of varying levels of participation can be a challenge. A crucial component of teaching is the ability to adjust to various personalities and learning preferences. Kindly feel free to discuss how you engage reluctant students in group projects, games, or role-playing by using different techniques.
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As someone who was not an active participator in classes when I was younger and who has worked with shyer students, the key is not to pressure them. While participating in discussions can be important and show a student's understanding, not everyone is comfortable, some may even have anxiety. As a teacher, it's important to be encourage without pushing the student too much. It's also a lot easier to start small. Have students discuss in small groups and slowly work towards encouraging them to participate in whole-class discussions. It's also important to set clear expectations in the beginning of class that your classroom is a judgement-free space and enforce that students are kind and respectful to others. This way, when time comes for discussions, students who are more shy/unwilling to participate feel more comfortable to do so because they know that their peers are not judging them. The teacher should reflect this behavior as well and set an example.
- Amana AppiahI will motivate you to speak, read and write english language from the very first class.
Let the student feel comfortable as much as possible. Try breaking the ice by asking them their hobbies, expectations and sometimes cracking jokes to ease the tension in the class
The best thing to do is not to pressurize the student but also introduce a topic they are comfortable with and in that way it will allow the student to gradually open up and be part of the discussion
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I have had experience with shy students, best thing to do is try to engage in a topic that they like, but the teacher should have some common ground with the topic. example:films, food, music, games etc. Start from there and the student will open up.
So true, every student is different, depending on age and level of English, I find using their own interests as lessons, they engage immediately, and also ask CCQ's throughout the lesson, or ask the student to help you understand something that you know they are knowledgeable in.
As I have taught students in classrooms consisting of 25 students, I have come across different levels of learning although all of them are in the same age. I usually check with the shy or slower students by walking to their desks and enquiring whether they can do the lesson. Sometimes, they need encouragement and this will build their confidence. During group projects, I will assign one mentor to guide the shy student, eventually the shy or reluctant student will participate in the projects or role-play.
I try choosing topics that are good and interesting for my shy students .Then with time familiarity breeds comfortability which helps them speak
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To b more focus and to see English as a simple and fun language
