Putting students at ease
I find that some students start to sweat when I announce that everyone must share something personal. I know the feeling and there is no way around it for some students. What I'll do to ease tension for them is model a brief description of my favorite food, place, animal, color, etc. I may be more relevant to college and tell my major in college and what I did with my degree. Then I ask the students to turn to the person sitting next to them and introduce their name, and favorite??? Then I ask each student to introduce the person they just met. The exercise puts the timid student more at ease and personalizes the class.
Hi Billie,
This is a great strategy. Thanks for sharing it with us. This method lets the students bring items they are familiar with and comfortable talking about. As you say they calm down and get settled into talking about the items before they know it.
Gary
A speak class can be a very tense class for many peope, so the first speech I have the students do is an introductory speech. They are to bring a bag to school that contains five items that tell something about the students. Then they use those visual aids to tell us about themselves. It cuts down on the jitters for the students and helps them see the value of visual aids in their speeches.
I put students at ease by having them to introduce themselves in front of the class and myself. I also introduce myself. I find this breaks the ice.
I agree. I use the icebreaker on the first day of each class. This helps the students to relax and know that they aren't the only one making sacrifices by returning to school.
I find that an ice-breaker that is a group project is a good idea. Not only do they get to know each other but it helps when they introduce themselves.
Hi Tim,
Good strategy. This is a comfortable way to ease the students into the class while they get to know their classmates.
Gary
