Engaging Students in Active Learning

A commonly held assumption is that students like to take the easiest routes/short-cuts and prefer to be passive learners. Despite the fact that adult learners are busy individuals, research suggests that they do want to be engaged in active learning. They want their lessons to be interesting, practical and applicable.

Here are some of their suggestions for facilitating engaging lessons:

• use meaningful and purposeful learning activities
• ask stimulating questions
• use appropriate and relevant tools/technology to engage students
• incorporate real-life and application-based examples
• interact with students and effectively manage discussions

adapted from “Understanding Adult Learners’ Needs” by Dr. Nachamma Sockalingam, Singapore

Easy Reading

Many of you use the Westcoast Reader newspaper with your learner.  It’s available at the library each month and provides current, high interest articles to read and discuss.  The teacher’s resource can be printed on the web-site for worksheets to go with the articles.    Older editions of this newspaper are also available to print or read on-line at Best of the Reader.    As well, Alberta ESL services has a similar publication called English Express.   All of these provide great fillers during your tutoring time or can be expanded for an entire lesson.  Let me know if I can print them for you.