Tuning-in Activity

Task 1 (15-25 Minutes)

Complete the tasks before watching the three videos.

The survey and focus groups we conducted when designing this course suggested that the engagement levels of students on EMI and EAP courses are often quite low.

a. On average, how engaged do students appear to be during your lessons?

b. Do all students in the same class seem to have the same levels of engagement?

c. Do student engagement levels seem to vary from lesson to lesson? 

d. If you teach a variety of courses, do student engagement levels appear to be different depending on what course you’re teaching?

e. What do you think are the main factors that influence your students’ levels of engagement in your lessons? (Type your thoughts below.)

f. Our research has shown that various internal factors can influence student engagement levels,  e.g. their motivation levels, their view of how likely they are to achieve lesson/course aims.

If internal factors such as those mentioned above are negatively influencing student engagement levels, do you think there is anything you can do to make it better?

g. What reason(s) do you have for your choice of answer? (Type your thoughts below.)

h. Our survey and focus group participants reported that students’ lack of confidence in their English language ability often makes them less engaged.

On average, how confident are your students in their English language ability?

i. Do any of your students appear to feel anxious, nervous, or reluctant to speak or write in English during lessons?

j. What factors do you think could cause such anxiety, and if you have had such a student, how do you think you could help them overcome such anxiety? (Type your thoughts below.)