Sometimes in a lesson, especially one with high level students, it’s nice to have some honest, down-to-earth discussions within the lesson structure. There are times where the student really gets into a topic and wishes to elaborate or go off in a completely different direction due to individual interests or past experiences.
We were on a vocabulary lesson in one of my classes when we came to the word ‘melt’. One thing led to another and before long we were discussing the melting polar ice caps. All three high level students were very keen on expressing their opinions on the current state of the earth and how they could help save the environment. So, instead of moving on to the next word on my list, I allowed the students to go off on their tangent for a while. This is great for promoting natural conversation because the students are already interested in the topic and drawing them away from it would actually be counterproductive.
The World Wildlife Fund eventually came up and none of the students had heard of that organization before so they found it to be very educational. I also enjoyed sharing my knowledge of the WWF with them because the environment and preservation of the planet and its wildlife is also important to me. By the end of our discussion about current environmental threats, one of the students asked me to recommend some products which she could purchase from the WWF’s website and I told her that the adopt-an-animal kits were both cute and informative.
Having had such an lively conversation within the lesson really makes my day because it’s both positive and inspiring for both me and the students. So, whenever such an opportunity arises, I don’t hesitate to let the students express their opinions or share their interests because it is beneficial for everyone involved. o^_^o
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