Have you ever thought about your student’s work life? Better yet, have you ever asked them what they think about their jobs and their current work situation? If you’re not really sure, you should make time to get to know your students better. The more you know about them, their likes and dislikes, what they’re working on each day at work, how they feel about what they do, etc, the better you’ll be able to serve them with your classes.

But we’re talking about errors ESL teachers make that cause them to fail, so maybe you’re wondering what getting to know students has to do with preventing failure. Well, think about this:

Surveys suggest that around 50%  of employees are unhappy with their careers. That’s a big percentage, don’t you think? How many of those 50 percenters are in your classroom these days? (You can find out as you get to know each member of your class.) I’ve met many people who feel trapped in jobs they hate, working with and for people they cannot stand, enduring insanely long work days doing things they often hate day in and day out. Reports. Conference calls which drag on for hours, and day long meetings which dump even more onto their maxed out workloads. And some…some are just plain bored! I’ve had and still have many folks come through my classes in this situation.

What this means to you: Think: Are you and your classroom an extension of their boredom? Or are you a welcome escape? A place where they can smile, laugh, and have a good time as they develop their English skills? If you and/or  your class is just an extension of their boredom, how long do you think they’ll stick with you? How long before they start complaining, or just plain stop showing up?

Bored students are a detriment to both you and the rest of your students. So here are a few ideas to help you start thinking about how important it is to bring and keep joy in your classroom – and maybe how you can even help make a difference for your students, and turn your class into a happy oasis away from all the troubles of their normal work day.

Myth Busting:

Myth: Business English classes always need to be serious. I’ve actually heard teachers say this. They think that because they are stepping into corporate country, all smiles, laughter, and fun should be left at the door. They don their suits and ties, best dresses or blouses, polish their shoes, and march like a robot into their class. “Business is business.”

Truth: Business English classes often do deal with serious matters. And more often than not, you’ll have to dress up in order to comply with company and school dress code policies.  But you should never throw away fun, nor forget how to smile or laugh. Remember: if surveys out there are telling the truth, nearly half of the population thinks their current job sucks. They’re not happy.

You can make a difference: Make yourself a fun person to be around. Firstly, are you happy as an English teacher? (If not, you should figure out why. What’s missing? What can you do to change? Because if you’re bored or unhappy with what you’re doing, you’ll likely send that message loud and clear as you teach each day. That WON’T help you succeed as a teacher.)

So let’s assume that you love what you do.  Please make sure that you notify your face when you step into class. Do smile. Do be cheerful. Do spend time chatting it up with your students (in English of course!) Gently, a little each class, get to know the people who fill in your classroom seats each day. I always ask about my student’s weekends, their work day, their projects, their hobbies, and their families. You’re helping your students practice fluency and “small talk.” (You can even tell them that, just in case they may be worried that you’re not actually “teaching” them anything. It happens.)

By doing this a little each class, you can very quickly build great relationships with your students. But when they’re sharing with you, make sure you’re following along. If they share something funny, be sure to smile or laugh. (That’s a confidence booster for them – they just cracked a joke in another language, or shared a funny story successfully! That feels pretty cool!)

And don’t be afraid to share tidbits about yourself too. Did something funny happen to you over the weekend? (This morning I missed my subway stop cus I was too busy playing around with Twitter. That may very well show up in one of my classes because I like seeing my students smile or laugh.) And if nothing worth sharing happened, I often will bring in a joke or a funny visual (Which often ties in to what we’re working on in class. ) The point is, if you’re having a good time, you can bet that your students are too. And that’s a really good thing. (Even if you’re in a stuffy corporate meeting room for a class.)

No, we’re not aiming for you to become a standup comedian. Everyone has their own personal style to teach, and some are more serious than others. But beware: boring teachers + bored and unhappy students can = students not showing up, and class cancellations. Make your class a fun place to be in. Your students AND YOURSELF, will thank you.

(Photo credits: Natural Woman By nathalielaure )