4: Student-centered teaching: Is it possible? - Top 5 Tips for teaching low level conversation classes

49 ESL Conversation Games & Activities - Jackie Bolen 2020

4: Student-centered teaching: Is it possible?
Top 5 Tips for teaching low level conversation classes

Student-centered teaching should be the ideal that we all strive for in every single class we teach and it really is possible with even a high-beginner class. However, with very low level students it can be extremely difficult to do this and by necessity, you may have to have a more teacher-centered approach.

If this is the case, do not worry too much about it, but always be thinking in the back of your mind how you could make each activity more focused on the students and less on you. If there's an activity that is mostly you talking, consider whether or not that's the best activity and think about if there's another one you could replace it with. Remember, it's the students who should be working hard in your classes and not you.

I remember when I did the CELTA course (the 120 hour long ESL teaching certification program from Cambridge University) and how one of my tutors challenged me to make lessons that were more student-centered. I had thought that my lessons were this way already, but I now see that it wasn't true. He challenged me to consider every single thing I did in class where I was at the front of the classroom speaking and whether or not it could be done in a way that had the students either discovering the language for themselves through guided discovery, or using the language in a meaningful way with a partner or small group.

I challenge you to do the same thing that my tutor did for me. Carefully consider every single time you're at the front of the class talking and how you can reduce this talking time and increase the amount of time your students are active and engaged. Sure, it's a harder for them but they'll almost always appreciate it when they see gains in their language skills, which student-centered teaching will bring.