Using Boring Examples
Some teachers think that learning English is a very serious matter or that grammar always has to be boring. But this is not true! Learning English should be a really fun experience for you and for your students!
Think about it: if your students are bored, they will not feel very motivated to study, learn, or participate in class. Do not worry. Every single example you give your students is an opportunity to make your lessons fun and interesting!
Let's find out how.
First, remember to carefully create your lesson plan. You should have a clear goal that your students understand, and your activities should be varied and engaging. Get your students to participate!
Now, imagine that you are teaching a grammar lesson about predictions with the modal verb will.
In your activities, try to avoid boring, generic examples about people who do not really exist. These are okay for some explanations, but they are not much fun! Examples might be more interesting to your students if they are silly, funny, or about real people your students know.
For example, you could do one activity with situations that your students must read. Then they can work together to predict what will happen next:
Think about it: if your students are bored, they will not feel very motivated to study, learn, or participate in class. Do not worry. Every single example you give your students is an opportunity to make your lessons fun and interesting!
Let's find out how.
First, remember to carefully create your lesson plan. You should have a clear goal that your students understand, and your activities should be varied and engaging. Get your students to participate!
Now, imagine that you are teaching a grammar lesson about predictions with the modal verb will.
In your activities, try to avoid boring, generic examples about people who do not really exist. These are okay for some explanations, but they are not much fun! Examples might be more interesting to your students if they are silly, funny, or about real people your students know.
For example, you could do one activity with situations that your students must read. Then they can work together to predict what will happen next:
- John is on the train very early in the morning. He is on his way to work. He suddenly realizes that he has put his shirt on backwards! What will he do?
OR
- Emily has a pet rabbit that likes to sleep in her backpack. She arrives to class one day and finds him sleeping there! What will she do? What will the rabbit do?
Try to see who can come up with the funniest prediction. This will be much more fun for your students than "serious" examples, and they are still practicing the grammar!
You can make fun or more personal examples for any topic you are using. So get creative and have some fun!
You can make fun or more personal examples for any topic you are using. So get creative and have some fun!
