Tips To Create A Student-Centered ESL Classroom

ESL teachers act as "guides", leading students to learn the target language, rather than making themselves the center of the classroom. Students are the real protagonists of the learning process, which means that teachers should create a student-centered classroom so that they can freely put forward their own views on the curriculum, communicate with each other, and choose their own learning path.

Unlike young learners, high-level students have the ability to learn independently and no longer urgently need direct instruction from teachers. On the contrary, proper guidance can give them a deeper understanding of knowledge.

Here are some tips to build a student-centered classroom:

• Show students that you respect and value their opinions, and don’t be shy to express themselves.
• Allow students to make decisions during the learning process, such as choosing special teaching materials and the way of submitting assignments.
• Involve students in desk arrangements and adjust regularly.
• Organize private meetings (one-on-one) between teachers and students to check their learning progress and give them some specific suggestions when they are struggling in a particular part of learning.
• Set a fixed talk-time for students.
• Do not directly demonstrate and lecture, give students space independent thinking.
• Cultivate students' critical thinking, such as setting open-ended questioning and group discussion

You may also find TIPS TO CREATE A GREAT CLASSROOM WHEN TEACHING IN CHINA here