Have you ever had a problem like Jaime?
One of my TESOL graduate students in Colombia does. She has a dream job, teaching English at a country club near Bogota. The club attracts international visitors who come to stay, swim, play tennis and golf. Her job is to improve the English skills of everyone from the club’s hotel staff to the tennis coaches, lifeguards, and golf caddies. Most are highly motivated.
Except for Jaime.
Jaime, a golf caddy, would slump into class each day, throw down his bag, sit at the back, and automatically take out his phone.
“Jaime, could you take out your book, please?”
“Forgot it, teacher.”
“Jaime, could you answer the question?”
“No idea, teacher.”
She tried everything to motivate him, but nothing seemed to work. So, imagine her surprise one day when she walked into class to find him sitting at the front, book open, sharpened pencils ready, and no phone in sight. Although she found it surprising, she didn’t want to embarrass him and instead taught the lesson as normal. Jaime’s hand shot up constantly, either asking her to repeat a point while he took careful notes, or attempting to answer each of her questions.
What changed? By the end of the week, she had to find out and asked him to stay behind.
“Because I only speak Spanish,” he sighed, “I only work for local golfers. But I just found out that the caddies who speak English and carry clubs for the international golfers get tipped ten times as much.”
Jaime had discovered one of two major reasons for adults to learn a second language: career progression. The other, if you can’t guess, is love...removing language as a barrier to intimacy.
Everyone is motivated about something and that motivation can be translated to the classroom. For example, without mentioning language learning, ask your students to list a few things they have been motivated about in the past, and identify the principles involved.
Let’s say a student is motivated to improve her soccer skills. Beyond “It’s fun!”, dig deeper and you’ll uncover things such as understanding personal potential, doing something social, and not letting down teammates. If you substitute classmates for teammates, you can see that these are all motivations for learning a language. There are countless more, but focus on what is personal for each student.
Beyond a lack of awareness about the advantages of learning English, here are three enemies of motivation.
It’s a simple truth that more outgoing people have an easier time learning a language; they’re more willing to make an effort and continue trying until they succeed.
Naturally shy people will still learn – sometimes focusing more on reading and writing – but there are ways to help them be more outgoing. For example, language games can help shy students by increasing a sense of competitiveness and lowering their affective filters, the emotions that interfere with language acquisition such as anxiety and a lack of self-confidence (Krashen, 1992). The connection is confidence; build up students’ confidence and they will be more motivated.
This issue is often a byproduct of constant teacher interruptions and comments on students’ language use. Be patient, give students time to think before they answer, and don’t always take the answer from the first person to raise a hand. Consider asking everyone to raise their hands before asking one student.
When you give feedback, focus on errors and ignore mistakes. We all make mistakes in our first and second languages when we speak and generally know we are making them. It’s just that we may be temporarily distracted. Errors, on the other hand, are mistakes that are repeated and the speaker is unaware of them. This leads to fossilization and challenges remediating them. Focus on systematic errors instead of mistakes.
Also, as a general rule, when students are speaking, observe the same politeness you would with anyone else. Avoid interrupting, and offer corrections later, perhaps privately or in a note.
Many adult language learners are heavily committed to other activities; families and work obligations leave them little time to study. However, others may assume they are busy. As a language task, ask students to write a schedule of their typical day and explain what they do hour by hour.
While studying cello in my 30s, I was fortunate to come across a book by educator John Holt (1991) who also learned cello as an adult. In the book, he said that if you do anything new in a major way, make room in your life by giving up something else. For students, that something else may be part of their social life.
But even the busiest students have a few minutes between tasks… time waiting in lines, or on a bus. Using a phone app can provide practice.
Students tend to be motivated to different degrees as they progress through a language. At first, students will make rapid progress and have high expectations about learning English. However, as they advance, their progress becomes less noticeable. This can be a difficult time for students.
Try using 'imagining sessions' with students, where they roleplay themselves 20 years from now as fluent English speakers. What will they be doing? Maybe they’ll be English teachers themselves! Share your journey to becoming someone who now teaches English. Perhaps you were once a golf caddy named Jaime.
Food is not just a means of nutrition; it can be a vibrant part of a culture's identity. English cuisine, influenced by its history, boasts a range of interesting and sometimes puzzling food names (some even puzzling fluent English speakers).Let's explore the stories behind some of the most well-known English food names.
Studying at a UK university can be an amazing experience, but it comes with financial obligations. If you're thinking about studying abroad, it's essential to thoroughly research the cost of living in the UK and create a budget that works for you.
We’ve created a simple guide to help you get an idea what to think about when it comes to researching the living expenses in the UK for international students. To make sure you're prepared before you head off to the UK.
As you prepare for your trip abroad, there are various expenses you'll have to pay for before leaving your country. These one-time expenses include fees for a UK student visa, university fees for international students, and course materials.
Although these costs can be significant, it's important to include them in your budgeting.
After moving to the UK, you will have regular expenses to take care of such as rent, transportation, household and phone bills. These expenses remain consistent throughout the year and can be easily planned for.
As an international student in the UK, you may face various living expenses that can vary based on your individual circumstances.
For example, If you often travel on weekends or spend a lot of time going out with your friends, it's best to overestimate those expenses.
It's important to consider your expenses for socializing, shopping for clothes, and pursuing hobbies. If you have a limited budget, it's crucial to monitor these expenses closely.
If you're planning to study in the UK, keep in mind that the cost of living will depend on your location. Living in a big city versus a small town can result in significantly different accommodation costs.
For instance, the average one-bedroom rental can range from £1100 in a smaller city like Oxford to £1,695 in metropolitan London.
If walking isn't an option for you, then you should consider budgeting for transportation. In Glasgow, a monthly pass for public transportation costs £63, while in Manchester, it will cost you £74.
If you're someone who likes to stay active and exercise, you may also need to account for workout costs. Even with student discounts, joining the university gym in Cambridge will cost students about £35 per month, compared to £22 at the on-campus facilities in Leeds.
Before deciding where to study, it's important to research the cost of living in different cities and regions to ensure it fits within your budget due to the variation in costs.
Do you know any international students who have studied at the university you plan to attend? Or is there a student organization you can contact for information?
Reaching out to current students can provide insight into their daily expenses and they might even offer great tips on where to find good deals or places to avoid.
The cost of student housing varies based on the type of accommodation you prefer. Are you interested in living on campus, renting your own place, or sharing with fellow students off campus? Most schools provide comprehensive details about housing options, including contact information for potential roommates, landlords, or homestay families.
To help with budgeting as a student in the UK, you can use a like the one provided by the Universities and Colleges Admission Service (UCAS).
The calculator also offers the convenience of selecting your school from a list for accurate local costs.
With all these expenses, a bit of extra income would be helpful for any student. One possible way to supplement your finances during your studies is through tutoring. You can consider tutoring children or your fellow students at the university. It's important to note that international students are allowed to work up to 20 hours per week during the school year while on a student visa.
Your university's career center can assist you in finding part-time work opportunities, especially if you are looking to gain experience in your field of study. Maybe you're looking to work in a pub or restaurant to improve your English skills and experience the local culture.
Scholarships are available for both undergraduate and postgraduate studies, either directly from universities or through government initiatives. Non-EU nationals seeking postgraduate studies can apply for .
Although it may seem overwhelming, estimating your cost of living only requires a few calculations. Simply add up your fixed and variable expenses, as you would if you were living in your home country.
As a helpful reference, we have provided an example of a monthly budget for a student living in Nottingham. The budget is calculated using average spending data obtained from a UK student budget calculator.
Item |
Cost |
Rental apartment |
£385 |
Transportation (monthly pass with student discount) |
£49 |
Utility bills (electricity, gas, water, etc) |
£46 |
Gym membership (university gym) |
£23 |
Phone and internet |
£27 |
Grocery shopping |
£73 |
Bank fees |
£30 |
Clothes and personal items |
£50 |
Takeaway and eating out |
£70 |
Total |
£753 |
It's common to come across discounts for students, like deals on food at campus eateries, special phone plans, or lower prices at certain shops and restaurants.
Don't miss out on these opportunities and make sure to ask about them. Keep in mind that this budget doesn't cover expenses for shopping or hobbies, so take those into account based on your individual situation.
If you're able to work while studying abroad, it can help ease some of the financial strain. UK residents who require additional support may be eligible for .
There are lots of regarding financing and budgeting whilst abroad, so make sure to do your research and check them out.
No two teenagers are the same. Within all of our classes there tends to be not only a range of English proficiency levels, but also general learning styles, maturity, motivation, and personalities. This diversity can bring some challenges, but also opportunities to vary your classroom activities and teaching methodology.
Here are some ways to help deal with mixed-ability classes and ensure all your students experience success in their language learning journeys.
