Today I observed Conversation Club, which focuses on providing a safe space for students to practice their English in a casual and supportive environment. While, unfortunately, there were no students that joined the online club, it was an opportunity for the student teachers to participate in the activities to get a sense of how the club operates.
Early on in the lesson, it became apparent that the teacher leading the club put considerable effort into the development of activities that were engaging and fun based upon the theme of music. The choice to use the theme of music for the lesson reminded me of the importance of tapping into students’ motivation as a key element to engage in second language learning. Throughout the lesson the teacher embedded videos, games and activities that were fun and encouraged conversation between students. The topic immediately sparked my interest as a student and I was patiently waiting my turn to share my thoughts and perspective.
In order to encourage conversation the teacher called on specific students by name, asked them to turn on their microphone and answer the question(s) being asked. At this stage of the class, while slightly nervous, students fully participated and shared their thoughts. Perhaps it was due to the fact that the students were native English speakers, or perhaps it was due to the personal passion with the topic, either way, at the end of the lesson I felt energized and excited about connecting with fellow students in the class.
In conclusion this observation reminded me of the importance of creating classroom spaces that encourage participation in a way that is comfortable for all participants. As I begin my journey in on-line teaching it will be important to reflect on how to translate my in-person classroom teaching experience to this new environment.