Bangkok was packed this weekend with people going to see the Avengers
It seems like the whole world is on holiday right now. Β How are your kids going to react when they come back to your class after their break? Β Are they going to love it and be super keen to get right back into things? Β Or maybe something else?
As you’re reading things I’m pretty sure it’s the former π
The key is to make every lesson so engaging and amazing that they are desperate for more and can’t wait to come back, especially after a break or holiday. Β The way to do this is to Β look at everything you are doing in class, from start to finish, and really think “Is this super engaging for my kids?” Β Does this make them think? Β Does this make them go “wow”. Β Β If it’s not, change it. Β Teaching is all about change.
No attention?
And remember there are no excuses. Β If you’re doing Genki English all the engagement is built it, but even if you feel you have to teach something else that other teachers might see as “boring” you can always genki it up by bringing in real human emotions and motivations.
Some say “everyone these days has short attention spans” and for that just look at this past weekend’s launch of the Avengers. Β After 22 – yes twenty two!! – movies people are still queuing up in their tens of millions to sit and watch a 3 hour long movie! Β You can never be too long, only too boring.
Make sure you study Disney and how they captivate people’s imagination and deep psychology whilst still educating people. Β Stan Lee’s books on writing are great for this.
The boring old teachers who think “Not everything can be fun or entertaining,” or “Learning shouldn’t be fun” Β or that “Some subjects just can’t be made engaging” have already missed the boat. Β Β With all the tech and options out there these days their students have already moved on and the great students are instead learning from the amazing teachers like you who can make ANY subject totally amazing and of course engaging.
Good luck, enjoy every second of life and lessons and be genki!
Richard
I’m teaching first year university students this year and a big change from six to twelve year olds. Howver, that said, the same activities that the children enjoy are also enjoyed by these young adults, especially mingles or survey/interview activities that give them a chance to talk to members of the opposite sex, lol. (they are just starting to get to know each other on the course). The problem is we teach them for eighty minutes every morning, Mon to Thur. That’s a lot of exposure to one group of people in a week. Trying to stay genki.