[Eric18]

Learn more about your students, and tailor your lessons to their interests, needs, and ambitions.

How? Here's a simple, classic technique.
Ask a question on the attendance sheet every day.
What is your favorite movie?
What was the last song you heard?
How do you deal with stress?
What's your ideal vacation destination?
Can you share a personal slogan?
What's your favorite English word or expression?
Who speaks the most fluent English in your family?
Where will you use English in two years?

Sometimes, naturally, I use the attendance sheet to re-enforce classroom lessons. How will you improve your rough draft? What is a mistake that you will avoid in your next presentation? Please share three academic verbs, etc.

Finally, I would suggest allowing students to help create the course content. For instance, you require they read an article in English from a magazine, newspaper, or website. You choose a minimum length, and establish a simple worksheet. Ask them about the article (author, source, length, date), the main idea, and why they chose it. You could add 5 new vocabulary words, and ask them to evaluate the article. Give the students a chance to share their article in small groups as you circle the class checking their homework.

Will this technique always work? No. But it tends to be quite effective with high school, college, and adult students. Give them space to bring their interests, passions, and concerns into your classroom.

As Erich Fromm, a great 20th century psychologist and social critic, noted, "education is helping the child realize his potentialities." Learning English sometimes opens new doors - both physical and psychological.