Successful communication is key to a successful future for our young learners – in both a social and an academic context. In this webinar, Guess What! authors Susannah Reed and Lesley Koustaff explored some of the barriers that may prevent young learners from speaking in the ELT classroom, and the tips for overcoming them.
Susannah and Lesley began by discussing the importance of verbal communication for young learners:
Why do young learners need to communicate?
– To develop their personalities.
– To relate to other people in social contexts, in everyday interactions.
– To succeed in an academic context.
– As communication is an important 21st century skill, and speaking is an integral part of this.
What are some of the key barriers to communication that students might experience?
– Not knowing the correct language to use.
– Not having enough chances to use the language, perhaps due to teacher-centred lessons or large class sizes.
– Not having anything meaningful to say about a topic.
– Not feeling safe or being afraid to speak in class.
These are examples of both emotional and language-related barriers. Lesley identifies that the ‘Affective Filter’ is important to look at here – a theory which explains the positive and negative emotional factors that affect performance. A high Affective Filter results in reduced performance; it can be made up of emotional barriers such as boredom, fear, and anxiety, which can inhibit effective speaking.Susannah and Lesley go on to share their top tips for keeping the Affective Filter low and how to minimise the typical communication barriers outlined. They also suggest helpful advice to encourage communication – such as making speaking in class voluntary, and the importance of gently correcting pupils’ mistakes (focusing more on praising their successes) to build confidence.
Watch the webinar recording below to hear more from Lesley and Susannah on useful ways to encourage effective communication from your young learners.
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