“I’ve learned that people will forgetwhat you say . . . what you did but

they will never forget how you made them feel.”

Maya Angelou

Remember Your Favorite Teacher?

Dr. Sharla Jones

If the Walls Had Ears . . .

Before the First Class . . .What are students thinking?

Teacher: easy or strict?Male or female?

Young or old?Tests: afraid of failure!

Grades!

Strangers:New friends?

How to communicate? Speak my language?

Other cultures different—can I connect?

English Skills:Embarrassment! Don’t want to look foolish!

How good is my English vs. others?

Brain and Heart: How to Create an Optimal

Classroom Climate

Carol A. Costello

M.A.-TESOLDept. of Foreign Languages, ESL, and Philosophy

San Antonio Collegeccostello4@alamo.edu

Optimal Classroom Climate: Overview

I. What’s NOT Taught

II. Manage Anxiety/ Elements of Rapport/Trust

III. The Big Picture / Your Thoughts

Case Study: Melissa

• Serious about teaching• Likes being in the classroom,

but . . . • Well prepared and organized• Knows ESL teaching• Experiments with different

techniques• Stays on top of her courses• First class technology

resources

Melissa’s Dark Side

• Feels uncomfortable in class

• Senses a chasm between herself and the students

• Students may not take another course from her

What’s missing?

• Melissa is doing what she was taught in school

• Affective filter hypothesis: Krashen

Affective Filter Hypothesis

Motivation

Self- confidence

Anxiety

L 2

Blame the Student?

What is NOT Taught

Foundation upon which effective teaching occurs

Rapport / Trust

• The positive relationship between the people in the classroom

Subject Matter

The Classroom is an Emotional Environment!

• Building Rapport – Day One– Throughout the semester

“Rapport Index”

Day 1 Day 2 Day 3 Midterm Final

Effect of Rapport / Trust

Cause: Connection between student and teacher

Effect: Students want to come to class

Students participate in activities willingly

Become interested in their education

Lowman, 1995

“The ability to stimulate strong positive emotions separates the competent from the outstanding college teacher.”

What Can You Do with a Room Full of Strangers?

• Make Them Feel Important!• Every Person is My Teacher

Principles of Creating Rapport

Be Approachable

Connect

Care

Be Approachable: Work the Audience

Be Approachable, Be a PersonGo into the class. Teach from the back of the room

Be Approachable

Be Approachable: Mingle with the Students

Be Approachable: Stand More than Sit

Connect: Show Your Personal Side

Connect: Roll Call

• Names• Countries

Take Photos with NamesConnect: Cell Phone and Names

Connect: Use Passport or Similar Game

Connect: Different Cultures

Dr. Nel Noddings

“The student is infinitely more important than the subject matter.”

Care: Tell Them “Why”

• Activities are not random• Everything has a purpose

Care: Tell Them Why You Love Teaching

Care: Show How Rules Help Them

• Police or teacher• Absences• Cell Phone Addiction• Speaking Native Language• Tardiness

Care: Be Easy to Reach

“I don’t come here to go home!”

Care: Praise Them!• In front of class• Use their name• Find “excuses”• Write on their tests

Care: Vulnerability

• Refugees• Culture Shock• Poverty• Bullying• Immigration status

Principles of Creating Rapport

Enthusiasm

Use your entire person to promote learning

You Tube!

Classroom as Theater

Check for Engagement!

The Classroom as Theater

• Relaxation, smiling face• Voice• Space• It’s like a reality show!

Show Enthusiasm

• Professor S. Ceci’s experiment/presentation style– Constant• Books• Tests• Grading

– Variable• Enthusiasm

– Speaking– Gestures

Are the Students Engaged?

• On task• Show understanding • Using English• Look happy• Homework completed

Show Respect and Understanding

• Ask permission to touch them or use their items

• Explain the emotion of grades• Give non-credit/extra credit tests occasionally

Classroom RulesShow how rules make it easier to teach/learn• Be consistent!• Be positive!

Rules!!

Final Thoughts Students have strong feelings about education

Can I Be Replaced by YouTube?

A Recruiting Station

• Show the students the benefits of ESL and academic education

• Engender a desire to learn

• Show them they can learn and do• Benefits for you, your colleagues, and the

institution!

Conclusion

• You can do small things and make a big difference

• You get swift feedback on your actions• You can change your teaching & life!

References• University of Alberta: Olga Bilash• http://www.educ.ualberta.ca/staff/olenka.bilash/best%20of%20bilash/buildingstudentrapport.html

• Buskist, W. and Saville, B. (2001). Rapport-Building: Creating Positive emotional contexts for enhancing teaching and Learning. APS Observer, 14,. Retrieved September 19, 2013 from www.psychologicalsciencs.org/teaching/tips/tips_0301.html

• University of Southern California: Center for Excellence in Teaching http://cet.usc.edu./resources/teaching_learning/docs/teaching_nuggets_docs/2.4_Motivating-your_students.pdf

• Affective Filter Hypothesis• http://www.sk.com.br/sk-krash.html

• Noggins, Nel A Morally Defensible Mission for Schools in the 21st Century(Reprinted from Clinchy, Evans, ed. Transforming Public Education: A New Course for America’s Future. (New York: Teachers College Press, 1997, pp. 27-37) Retrieved September 20, 2013 from

http://edweb.sdsu.edu/people/Dkitchen/TE652/noddings.htm

Your Thoughts?