I'm all ears... am I?

I’m all ears... am I?

byTeresa CarvalhoRio de Janeiro,

Brazil

novelty focus

attention learning

Everything that you remember and forget depends on attention. The less you pay attention, the less you’re likely to remember and learn.

This might mean eliminating competing stimuli by shutting down peripheral channels.  In other words, by unplugging the classroom.

Adapted from Scott Thornbury’s Blog An A to Z of ELThttp://scottthornbury.wordpress.com/2010/08/22/a-is-for-attention/

How can you make sure your students are listening?

During whole class activities one student speaks at a time.

Before pair work or group activities tell students they will need to report what their classmates said at the end of the activity.

http://mimiandeunice.com/about/

Make sure cell phones and electronic mobiles are off.

Eye contact is important. Train your students to do that.

Surprise your students: Dictate the instructions.

Students can surprise each other: Ask them to insert a an awkward/a new word in their conversation. They must listen for these words and write them down.

Don’t be afraid of silence.

Thank you!terecristina.carvalho52@gmail.com

http://www.scoop.it/t/language-resources-for-teachers-of-english-as-foreign-language