6 Dynamic English as a Foreign Language Activities That Always Motivate Learners

Are You Still Struggling to Teach English?

Are you still struggling to teach English to unmotivated, reluctant LEP learners? Well don’t blame them entirely just yet. Try making your EFL classes more dynamic using activities, strategies and techniques presented in this brief EFL teacher education article post. From creative uses of music, dynamic ELT games, speaking-practice dramas, CALL and others, these practical, fast-paced activity types always seem to motivate even the most Limited English Proficiency and reluctant EFL learners to greater participation, language practice and skills acquisition.

A Series of Dynamics

These activity types will step participants actively through a series of ELT (English Language Teaching) dynamics of up to six activity types that always seem to motivate EFL (English as a Foreign Language) learners who may be reluctant to practice English or be LEP (Limited English Proficiency) learners. First, examine and reflect on some of the possible intrinsic and extrinsic causes of poor EFL learner motivation on the part of your learners. Then, select activity types based on the impact on student learning styles, preferences and abilities of your class groups.

Activities and materials selected primarily include the use, application and theoretical basis of:

1. Music, Songs and Poetry C. Graham (1994) and H. Gardner (1993)

2. Dynamic ELT Games, and Puzzles H. Gardner (1993)
“Theory of Multiple Intelligences”

3. Drama and Story-Telling P. Lazear et al, (2003) and A. Wright (1995)

4. Computer-Aided Language Learning G. Dudeney et al (2004)

5. Movies / Videos “Affective Filter Hypothesis” Krashen - Terrell (1983)

6. TPR Total Physical Response, Asher (1996)

A Simple Sequence

Learners / participants are organized into pairs or small groups, depending on their numbers and their particular interests and levels or EFL profiles.

-Next, a variety of dynamics-based activities and materials types proceeding to participant hands-on activities to practice and internalize themes using each of the main materials types.

Example activities and materials types are demonstrated, created, and adapted using available facilities (i.e., TV – VCR / DVD player, audio cassette or CD player, and OHP-overhead transparency projector) to meet the needs and interests of learner / participants.
Presented activities and materials can be adapted to suit groups of EFL learners from Primary / Secondary school up to language institute or university levels.

In an upcoming series, we’ll consider each of these dynamic EFL activity types in greater detail. Reviewing English or other foreign language teaching and learning specifics for the classroom application of each one regardless of the available resources (or lack thereof) a school, language institute or ESL class room may have.


Prof. Larry M. Lynch is an EFL Teacher Trainer, Intellectual Development Specialist, author and speaker. He has written ESP, foreign language learning, English language teaching texts and hundreds of articles used in more than 100 countries. Get your FREE E-book,"If you Want to Teach English Abroad, Here's What You Need to Know" by requesting the title at: lynchlarrym@gmail.com Need a blogger or copywriter to promote your school, institution, service or business or an experienced writer and vibrant SEO content for your website, blog or newsletter? Then E-mail me for further information.

Using Drama in the EFL Classroom: Essential Props and Materials to Have on Hand

Motivating EFL Learners Using Drama
Motivating our English as a foreign language learners is a constant concern among most EFL teachers. Learners may also be limited English proficiency (LEP) or reluctant due to other intrinsic or extrinsic motivational factors. You might be in need of new techniques for teaching English grammar, verbs or structure in context. Then too, EFL teachers may simply be seeking additional ways to incorporate dynamics into their English language teaching. Whatever the case may be, the addition of drama and dramatic elements is often an enthusiastically welcomed one. In preparation, here are some suggested useful props and materials that will aid in the inclusion of dramas in the EFL class room.


Key Props You Should Have on Hand

Furniture:
Some useful items for simulating a restaurant, café, store or small shop setting include a small table, two to four chairs, a tablecloth, place settings some throw pillows, a throw rug, and an assortment of tableware. For tableware consider plastic tumblers, cups, plates, flatware, cookware, napkins and containers for condiments.

Character Clothing:
To help learners get into character for dramatizations, dialogues and role plays a selection of jackets, smocks, aprons, hats, caps (baseball cap, uniform cap, etc.), masks-to have “Batman” do passive voice, and wigs (in a variety of colors) are easily acquired. Consider additional items such as neckties, boots, scarf, handkerchiefs, bandanas and gloves too.

Noise-Makers:
EFL learners of all ages love to put these into play during dramatic scenes of many different types. All manner of bells, chimes, whistles flutes, rattles and whatever other realia you might be able to come up with will add to your variety of imaginative props.

Toys and Playthings:
These toys and playthings I rather like myself because they can be utilized in a vast array of English as a foreign language class activities, in addition to drama and dialogues usage. Try an assortment of items such as: balloons, dolls, stuffed animals, marbles, jacks, decks of playing cards, an inflatable ball (like a beach ball), a smaller rubber ball, baseball or soccer ball, a pair of dice, some popular board games, a set of checkers, some dominoes, and a chess set.

Settings Accessories:
For simulating settings try props like ashtrays, timers, an hourglass, bags in assorted sizes, a very dull razor, shave cream, an egg timer, spray bottles, and a free-standing clock. Likely you’ll already have assorted books, paper, pens, rulers, scissors and other stationery items on hand in the class room to fill out this assortment of props.

Lights, Camera, Action!
Certainly, you won’t need to have all of these items on hand. Whatever is available and suits the conditions under which you teach will drive which of these things you’ll ultimately work with. Your learners will undoubtedly have many other suggestions too. Just remember to allow them free or “unguided” practice with the English language in context, performing dialogues, dramas, skits and role plays, have fun with it and above all enjoy the results.

Take a quick look at this skit a group of my learners did using a few simple props. It’s called, “What Will Jackie Say?”

Prof. Larry M. Lynch is an EFL Teacher Trainer, Intellectual Development Specialist, author and speaker. He has written ESP, foreign language learning, English language teaching texts and hundreds of articles used in more than 90 countries. Get your FREE E-books,"If you Want to Teach English Abroad, Here's What You Need to Know" by requesting the title at: lynchlarrym@gmail.com Need a blogger or copywriter to promote your school, institution, service or business or an experienced writer and vibrant SEO content for your website, blog or newsletter? Then E-mail me for further information.

How to Get Your EFL Learners to LOVE English Class

How Do Your EFL Learners Feel?
How do your English as a foreign language learners feel about coming to English class? Do they look forward to it because they know, “We’re going to do all kinds of interesting things in English class” or do they arrive late, and then want to leave English classes early?
You can snap them out of their “dread” of foreign language learning with a few simple adjustments to your English or other foreign language classes.

Here are five easily-implemented suggestions to approach doing so.

Use Drama
In any of its many forms, drama can enrich and enliven an English as a foreign language class like almost nothing else. There are a generous number of choices available to accomplish this from skits demonstrating monologues and soliloquy to pair dialogues and beyond. The dramatic forms do not have to be elaborate or lengthy to serve multiple purposes.

Incorporate the Use of Music and Songs
Always a favorite with my learners, using music in a broad spectrum of ways in the English language learning classroom is never a wasted effort. Music, in fact, is highly effective in stimulation of learning and intelligence in several proven ways. You can use music in the background, before a shift in lesson stages, to “time” exercises and activities, among a score of others. Don’t forget to include at least two or three popular songs during the course of a semester with you EFL groups as well.

Play Games
If you’re waiting for your learners to say, “We don’t want to play a game in English class, teacher” you’re in for a very long wait. Language learners of all levels, ages and ability just love to play games. What kinds of games? You name it. From the simplest form of TIC-TAC-TOE to a vast array of puzzles, vocabulary and TPR dynamic activities, your EFL learners will likely respond very well to strategically-placed games during the course of class sessions.

Show Videos and Movie Clips
Now if your English language learners are anything at all like mine, they have quite a visual type of learning style. Great! Because this means that you can use videos and short clips from popular movies to illustrate language, vocabulary and grammar in context. This is not only “painless” for the language learners, but they actually encourage and receive “lessons” from watching a video or movie clip better than a straight forward lecture. There are numerous films and film clusters that you’ll find useful no matter where you teach.

Tell a Story
To garner the rapt attention of virtually any group of English language learners, try telling them a good story. What? You say you don’t know or have any good stories? Are you kidding me? They’re all around you in the form of fables, fairy tales, literature and even the news. Try twisting a commonly-know tale with a different surprise ending. Let your learners shift and shape a familiar fable or folk tale. Use stories to illustrate grammar and vocabulary in context. The possibilities are limited only by the limits of your (and the EFL or other foreign language learners) imagination.

Snap Them Out of Their “Dread”
Snap your EFL learners out of their “dread” of foreign language learning by trying out some of these suggested activities. Include two or three in your English classes during the course of a semester, period or school year and watch as their interest and participation start to mount steadily. Soon your EFL learners will be saying, “We’re doing all kinds of interesting things in English class”. They’ll start arriving in classes early and you’ll have to boot them out the door at the end of classes. Now won’t that be a pleasant change?


Prof. Larry M. Lynch is an EFL Teacher Trainer, Intellectual Development Specialist, author and speaker. He has written ESP, foreign language learning, English language teaching texts and hundreds of articles used in more than 80 countries. Get your FREE E-books,"If you Want to Teach English Abroad, Here's What You Need to Know" or "7 Techniques to Motivate Your English Language Learners and Make Your Classes More Dynamic" by requesting the title you want at: lynchlarrym@gmail.com