Simple Rules Which Help to Keep Students Motivated

Emphasize the most critical concepts continuously. Reiterate these concepts in lectures and assignments throughout the course. Include questions relating to these critical subjects on every exam, thus rewarding students for learning, retaining, and, hopefully, applying this knowledge in a variety of contexts.

This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Maurine M. S.

1. Use visual aid

Provide students with a "visual aid" when possible to explain abstract concepts. A significant proportion of today's students are visual learners. For these students, a simple diagram, flashcards, videos or flowchart truly can be more valuable than a thousand words in a text or a lecture. This will motivate the students to elaborate on certain concepts.

Also Read: How To Create Interesting Teaching Materials

2. Organize in-class activities

Use in-class activities to reinforce the newly presented material. After a new concept or subject has been presented via text reading, lecture, or class discussion, allow the students to put the concept into action by completing an in-class assignment. These assignments can be short, but they must be developed to ensure that the students understand the critical concepts underlying the new material. Typically, most learning takes place when the students are permitted to work in small groups, to refer to their text and notes, and to ask questions of the instructor while completing the assignment. If these in-class assignments are part of the course grading scheme, class attendance also improves.

3. Show that the content is related

Help students create a "link" when teaching something new. If the student can "link" the new material to something already learned, the odds of learning the new material are greatly increased. Examples of possible links include prior material learned in this course, material learned in prerequisite courses, and "real-life" experiences of the students outside the classroom.

Also Read: Teaching Classes Containing a Wide Variety of Ages

4. Show the importance of the vocabulary

Recognize the importance of vocabulary in a course. Students often struggle with new vocabulary in many courses, especially introductory ones. This is always a serious situation in English if the students are learning English as L2. To succeed in these courses, students must become comfortable with new terms or words. As subjects are presented, new and confusing terms should be identified and introduced to the students. The teacher can present simple real-world definitions and alternative terms or world, in addition to textbook definitions. One way to help students assimilate the course vocabulary is to create a vocabulary glossary on the instructor's website where new terminology is added, explained, and illustrated throughout the course.

5. Praise

Treat students with respect. Patronizing behavior may be expected in certain classes.Make some classroom rules and be firm on them.Reward those who follow these rules. However, most teenagers or adults student will not respond well to these rules. Thus give students their dignity, and they will give you their best efforts.

Also Read: How much can I earn teaching English abroad?

6. Challenge

Hold students to a high standard. If students are not required to maintain a specified level of learning and performance, only the most highly motivated students will devote the time and effort necessary to learn. In contrast, maintaining high standards not only will motivate student learning, but it will also be the source of student feelings of accomplishment when those standards are met.

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Each of these rules can help motivate even the most lethargic student, but Rule in paragraph 6 and 7 are the most important. If students are not treated with respect and held to a high standard, scrupulously following the first five rules will have much less impact and might end up being an exercise in futility.

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