CELTA Classroom Management - Setting up activities

Summary

In this video, Joa Cona shares five valuable tips for successfully starting classroom activities, whether in-person or online. The tips include being enthusiastic to engage learners, using visuals to spark interest, asking compelling questions to boost participation, anticipating language challenges, and providing clear instructions through demonstrations. These strategies, drawn from Cona's extensive teaching experience, aim to create an engaging and effective learning environment right from the start of an activity.

Takeaways

• 😀 Enthusiasm is key to starting activities. Your energy will motivate learners and set a positive tone for the session.
• 😀 Visuals are a powerful tool for engaging learners. Use interesting, relevant images to spark curiosity and discussion.
• 😀 Ask interesting and thought-provoking questions to engage students. Questions about personal experiences or strong feelings often work best.
• 😀 Anticipate potential problems during the activity, especially language gaps. This will ensure smoother participation and success.
• 😀 Demonstrating the activity beforehand can save time and confusion. Clear demonstrations are often more effective than lengthy explanations.
• 😀 Make sure to choose activities that you are genuinely interested in. Your passion will resonate with your learners.
• 😀 Use tools like copyright-free image websites (e.g., Unsplash, Pexels) to find engaging visuals for your lessons.
• 😀 Asking questions that trigger strong emotions or opinions (e.g., favorite food or things you hate) can generate more discussion.
• 😀 Keep instructions clear and concise, and avoid overwhelming learners with too much information at once.
• 😀 Be proactive in providing language that may be necessary for completing the activity, particularly for lower-level learners.

Q & A

Why are beginnings important in teaching activities?

Beginnings set the scene for an activity. A good start helps generate interest, motivates learners, and ensures that the activity goes smoothly.

What role does enthusiasm play in starting activities?

Enthusiasm is crucial for motivating learners and creating energy around the activity. As a teacher, showing interest in the activity makes it more likely that learners will engage and feel motivated.

How can visuals enhance the start of an activity?

Visuals are a powerful tool to make activities more engaging and interesting. For example, using pictures can prompt thought-provoking questions and spark discussions among learners.

What are some good sources for copyright-free images to use in lessons?

Websites like Pixabay, Unsplash, Pexels, and Canva offer a wide range of high-quality, copyright-free images that can be used to support lesson activities.

How can you make questions more interesting to engage learners?

To make questions more engaging, focus on topics that elicit strong feelings or opinions from learners. For example, asking about a favorite or hated food can stimulate more conversation compared to general questions.

What should a teacher do if learners lack the language needed for an activity?

Teachers should anticipate potential language gaps and provide necessary vocabulary or phrases in advance. By doing this, learners will be better prepared and can successfully engage in the activity.

Why is it important to anticipate problems in the classroom?

Anticipating problems, such as language barriers, helps ensure that the activity runs smoothly. Teachers can then address these challenges beforehand, making the learning process more effective.

How can teachers prepare for potential language issues in lower-level classes?

One effective method is to do the task yourself before the class, which allows you to identify the language needs and be prepared to assist learners during the activity.

What is the importance of clear instructions in an activity?

Clear, concise instructions are crucial for helping learners understand what they need to do. A demonstration can often clarify the instructions more effectively than simply explaining them verbally.

How does demonstrating an activity help learners understand what to do?

Demonstrating an activity gives learners a clear visual and practical example of what is expected, making it easier for them to follow the instructions and participate successfully.