Start off right!

When you have a new set of ESL students it is important to make them feel comfortable as soon as possible.

A good way to do this is to sit all your students in a circle and get every student in the class to introduce themselves to the person sitting on their right hand side.

This normally creates some giggles and gets the whole issue of 'embarrassment' out of the way.

By doing this exercise all your students will realize that everyone is in the same position.

N.B. Make sure you are part of the circle and introduce yourself first. Straight away your students will realize that you are with them right from the start!

Example:

"Hello my name is Tanya and I will be your instructor for this program".

"Pleased to meet you" (Shake their hand)

Then they should say,

"Hello my name is ……….. and I am from …………

"Pleased to meet you too".

That student must then turn to the person on their right and go through the same process until the last student in the circle has spoken.

Introducing a new set of students to each other in the right way is the first step in the right direction!