Unlocking Classroom Engagement : Strategies for Creating Community in the University ESL Setting

Why do ESL teachers sometimes find it hard to create classroom engagement despite spending hours preparing thoughtful content? 

This is a question that I've wrestled with over the past year since launching a recruitment agency for university-level language teachers. Like most of life's burning questions, the answer is complex! 

I've identified three main reasons for low student engagement in the ESL university classroom : 

• Students have limited experience speaking English due to the national curriculum's focus on written communication. 
• Many ESL students have had negative experiences with language learning and are also often afraid to speak due to fears about their accent. 
• University students often don't view English as a relevant subject and prioritize their core subjects over language studies. 

I'm sure you can resonate with these three reasons as you've probably encountered them on a daily basis in your own classes. Keep reading to find out how with just a few adjustments to your classroom management, you can encourage classroom engagement for yourself! 

Understanding the Student's Perspective 

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Let's dive in by understanding things from the student's perspective. Once reaching university, most students have spent between 9-12 years studying English in primary and secondary school. In France, the education system highly favors written communication, and students often lack experience speaking the target language in class. Due to this limited experience and the widely held belief that English should be spoken with as little accent as possible, many students are highly reluctant to talk in class when asked. 

In addition, many students have had negative experiences in the ESL classroom as teachers overburdened by their workload and struggling to manage classrooms with upwards of 40 students are unable to help struggling students.  

University students also need help seeing the relevance of learning English as they may not plan to work abroad. The difficulty of other subjects more directly related to their field of study can make English seem irrelevant and a waste of time. 

Breaking Down Barriers: Establishing Trust & Community 

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Once we understand the mindset of many university students toward learning English, we can begin to adopt measures to bring down the barriers to classroom engagement. 

The first crucial thing to implement is trust; trust between the teacher and student and between the students. Once trust has been established, students will be much more willing to participate in class discussions and activities because they understand that ridicule and embarrassment are "off the table" in that space. 

The second crucial step is to establish a feeling of community in the classroom. This can be achieved through various means, but introducing classroom rituals and traditions is an excellent way to help students feel a sense of belonging! 

To build trust and community in your classroom, begin on the very first day by appearing open and approachable to your students. I always start my first lesson of the year by giving a short presentation of myself, including photos of my past, and answering any questions my students might have. Afterward, I ask each student an easy open-ended question like "What are your favorite toppings on a pizza." This open-ended question becomes a ritual I will repeat at the beginning of every class. It helps my students to warm up, and it also allows me to get to know my students better! 

Whenever possible, I also conduct individual interviews with each of my students at the beginning of the year. These short interviews are based on questions I ask beforehand and instruct my students to write down their answers before coming to the interview. 

The questions I typically ask are : 

• Which English skill do you feel is your strongest? 
• What skill do you feel you need to improve? 
• What would you like to improve about your English skills this semester? 

Once the students have given me their answers in the interview, I take 5 minutes to share my assessment of their speaking skills and provide them with helpful advice for improving at home. 

In my end-of-semester reviews, this activity has consistently been the highest rated amongst my students. That's because students feel they are being listened to and can trust me to provide constructive and instructive feedback. 

Breaking Down Barriers: Feedback 

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Providing feedback that is both timely and constructive is the next step to fostering student growth and engagement in the university language classroom. As an ESL teacher, you can empower your students by highlighting their strengths and offering constructive suggestions for improving their weaker areas. The key is to adopt and maintain a mentoring persona toward your students. Once your students understand that your advice is meant to help rather than criticize, they will be forever grateful for your attention and will respond positively to your feedback.Constructive feedback doesn't always have to be about grammar and vocabulary!

You can also deepen your student's understanding of cultural nuances and intercultural communication. ESL teachers are uniquely placed to help students navigate language and culture by addressing issues such as language usage, pronunciation, and context. Your feedback can clarify misunderstandings and provide cultural references. This approach enhances both language skills and cultural understanding, promoting more meaningful interactions in the classroom.

While you most likely agree that providing timely and constructive feedback is key, you may also be saying to yourself, "But how do I do this when I have 40 students in my class?" 

Incorporating technology into your classroom can help overcome the logistical barriers of large university classes, assisting you as you work towards optimizing the learning experience. Many digital tools out there offer a range of options, such as audio/video recordings, online forums, and collaborative editing. In September 2023, my company, Resourceful, will release an LMS (learning management system) to help you do just that! 

Breaking Down Barriers: Real-World Activities 

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Finally, as mentioned in the introduction, many students feel that English is irrelevant to their studies. This barrier to engagement can be addressed by introducing simulations of real-world activities in the classroom. When students feel that the material is based on real life, not the grammar and vocabulary lessons they've experienced for nearly a decade, they open up and are keen to participate in something real. 

To introduce real-world activities in the classroom, think about your students as future employees, business owners, and members of society. When beginning to design a course for my students, I often ask myself this question: "What do I know now that I would have liked to have known then?".  

Thinking this way allows me to inject more creativity and wisdom into designing my lessons, and students come away with a feeling of introspection and accomplishment. 

Designing your lessons as a course rather than individual lessons is an excellent way to give your students a sense of progress toward a goal. When you've worked on an assignment step by step for 4 weeks, the result feels more substantial, and students tend to work harder to achieve the best deliverable. Designing lessons as a course also allows the teacher to intervene at several points of the learning process to help autocorrect students when they are off course or haven't understood the learning objectives. 

Conclusion  

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By combining these strategies – establishing trust and community, providing constructive feedback, and incorporating real-world activities – teachers can create a vibrant and engaging learning environment in the university ESL classroom. 

Through these efforts,  you'll witness the remarkable growth of your students and cultivate a genuine appreciation for the English language. Embrace these approaches, and watch your students thrive, exceeding their expectations and expressing gratitude for your transformative impact!