The beginning of the school year can be a challenging time for English Language teachers as they strive to create a positive and engaging learning environment for their students. One of the most effective ways to achieve this is by using materials that are, first and foremost, engaging in the classroom.
Engaging materials are those that capture students’ attention and motivate them to learn. They can take many forms, such as videos, songs, stories, games, and interactive activities. By using such materials, teachers can create a fun and interactive learning experience for their students, which can help to build their confidence and enthusiasm for learning English.
Text by: Eftychis Kantarakis
One of the key benefits of using engaging materials in the classroom is that they can help to make language learning more accessible and enjoyable for students. Many students find traditional language learning methods, such as rote memorization and grammar drills, to be boring and demotivating. Nothing kills enthusiasm like repetition! What seems like the creation of “good habits” may actually turn into a tedious activity, that will give the wrong impression of what is to follow in the school year. It is up to us, the teachers to implement and use engaging materials, so we can create a more dynamic and interactive learning experience that is both fun and effective.
What we really aim for, as teachers, is for students to build their language skills in a natural and authentic way. For example, by using songs and videos, students can learn new vocabulary and grammar structures in context, which can help to improve their listening and comprehension skills. Similarly, by using interactive activities and games, students can practice their speaking and writing skills in a more engaging and interactive way.
Let’s explore some examples of engaging materials that teachers can use to promote active learning and student engagement in the English Language classroom.
Videos: Videos are a great way to engage students and provide them with authentic language input. Teachers can use a variety of videos, such as short films, commercials, short documentaries and news reports, to teach vocabulary, grammar, and pronunciation. For example, teachers can use a short film like the 2014 “The Present" to teach adjectives and adverbs, or use a news report on a current event to teach passive voice. What is important is to use videos that can be relatable and really interesting. Not something they have seen on the kids’ shows they watch at the weekends on TV for example. Not another talking robot or aliens that land in their country speaking perfect English. If it is real, it is relatable!
Songs: Songs are a fun and effective way to teach vocabulary, grammar, and pronunciation. We can use popular songs or songs that are related to the classroom topic to teach new vocabulary and grammar structures. For example, teachers can use the song “What Do You Mean?” by Justin Bieber to teach modal verbs, or use the song “We Are the World” to teach countable and uncountable nouns. Or kids’ songs from around the world that have been translated into English, as is the case of the National Geographic Learning series, Welcome to our World! Songs created for the right age group, respecting their preferences and cognitive needs.
Stories: Stories are a powerful tool for engaging students and promoting comprehension. Teachers can use a variety of stories, such as fairy tales, fables, and short stories, to teach reading and listening skills. For example, teachers can use the story “The Lion and the Mouse” to teach cause and effect, or use the story “The Gift of the Magi” to teach idioms. Or videos like “United by Ping Pong / The tables” by National Geographic, also in the New Close-up series. Videos that tell a story and make kids feel like “they are not the only ones”!
Games: Games are a fun and interactive way to teach and reinforce language skills. Teachers can use a variety of games, such as board games, card games, and online games, to teach vocabulary, grammar, and pronunciation. For example, teachers can use the game “Taboo” to teach vocabulary, or use the game “Hangman” to teach spelling and pronunciation.
Interactive activities: Interactive activities are a great way to engage students and promote active learning. We can use a variety of interactive activities, such as role-plays, debates, and group discussions, to teach speaking and listening skills. For example, teachers can use a role-play activity to teach conditional sentences, or use a debate activity to teach persuasive language. If you are thinking about computers and tablets when you hear Interactive activities, you are not wrong either. Anything that gets them in front of the class for an amount of time has a long-lasting effect on motivation and sense of achievement.
Overall, the use of engaging materials in the English Language classroom is essential for creating a positive and effective learning environment for students. By using a variety of materials and activities, teachers can cater to the diverse learning needs and preferences of their students, and help to build their confidence and enthusiasm for learning English. As such, it is important for English Language teachers to invest time and effort into finding and using engaging materials in their classrooms.
