Motivating Esl Students Engaging Strategies For The Classroom

Bonisiwe Shabane

-Oct 29, 2025, 4:40 PM

motivating esl students engaging strategies for the classroom

Stay connected with industry news, resources for English teachers and job seekers, ELT events, and more. Teaching English as a foreign language comes with its own unique set of challenges, especially when it comes to keeping students motivated. Whether you’re teaching online or in person, figuring out how to motivate ESL students can be the difference between a classroom filled with energy and engagement or one where students are counting down the... Let’s explore 10 proven strategies to keep your students motivated and engaged. Goal setting is fundamental for keeping track of students’ progress, building students’ self-esteem and confidence, and keeping students motivated. Goals give students purpose, so establishing clear, achievable goals for your students is crucial.

At the beginning of a course, work with your students to set both short-term and long-term goals. These goals should be specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART). For example, a short-term goal might be to learn 10 new vocabulary words related to a particular topic by the end of the week, while a long-term goal could be to improve speaking fluency... Setting goals helps students see their progress and gives them a sense of accomplishment, which is a great motivator. Read about eight engaging ESL vocabulary games for teaching in person or online. In today’s fast-paced educational landscape, keeping students engaged and motivated can feel like a Herculean task.

Did you know that according to Gallup, only 33% of high school students report feeling engaged in their learning? This alarming statistic highlights the urgent need for educators to adopt effective teaching strategies that not only captivate students’ attention but also inspire them to take ownership of their learning journey. In this article, we’ll explore 12 powerful strategies that can transform your classroom into a dynamic learning environment. From connecting lessons to real-world applications to incorporating mixed media, these techniques are designed to resonate with students of all ages and backgrounds. Whether you’re a seasoned educator or just starting your teaching career, you’ll find actionable insights that can elevate your teaching practice and boost student motivation. So, are you ready to unlock the secrets to student engagement?

Let’s dive in! Ready to enhance your teaching toolkit? 👉 Shop engaging educational resources like Reading Eggs and Mathletics to bring these strategies to life in your classroom! Quick Tips and FactsUnderstanding the Importance of Student Engagement and MotivationConnect Learning to the Real World: Practical ApplicationsDid You Know? Engaging Resources to Enhance LearningEngage with Your Students’ Interests: Tailoring LessonsFill “Dead Time”: Maximizing Every MinuteHarness the Power of Group Work and CollaborationEncourage Students to Present and Share Work RegularlyGive Your Students a Say:... We at Teacher Strategies™ have learned that engaging students is not just about providing a fun environment but also about creating an atmosphere where students feel motivated and motivated to learn.

Let’s start with a link to our article about my teaching strategies gold at https://www.teacherstrategies.org/my-turbo-teacher-gold/, which provides insights into effective teaching strategies. For those interested in learning more about our approach, we also have a category on instructional strategies at https://www.teacher strategies.org/category/institutional-strategies/, which offers valuable resources for educators. In this section, we’ll explore some quick tips and facts about student engagement and motivation. As teachers, we want to create an environment that encourages student learning and keeps our students motivated and engaged. Middle school and high school are such important times in a student’s academic journey, so it’s important to maintain their enthusiasm for learning. Of course, you’ll want to build strong and positive relationships with your students before any of these other strategies will work.

Either way, here are 11 proven strategies that not only help increase student engagement but also provide opportunities for critical thinking and therefore academic success. Letting students become leaders in their own learning, takes engagement to a deeper level. Students’ attention spans are at an all-time low with video games and social media taking over our lives. To help with this, introduce interactive activities such as group discussions, debates, role-plays, and educational games. These engaging methods make the learning process fun and exciting for every student. When you bring in activities where students can have group discussions such as in Socratic Seminars, it builds a sense of community that lends to student engagement.

Using a variety of teaching methods, including visual aids, hands-on activities, videos, and real-life examples to reach students with different learning styles is a must in all grade levels and all subject areas. This is especially true if you have students who come from different cultural backgrounds and those learning English as their second language. Small changes like showing a video of the concept before reading the text can make a big difference in student success. Different ways to do this are listed below. This type of engagement is by far my favorite because it’s active learning at its best! Give students opportunities to explore their interests and apply what they’ve learned to real-world situations.

This helps them feel more autonomous and engaged in their own learning. You as the teacher get to decide whether to teach using repetitive academic tasks where you check for correct answers or a learning experience full of active participation and academic engagement. When assigning projects like the All About My Country Research project or using Socratic Seminars during a novel study, students take an active role in their learning and they start thinking and applying their... This, in turn, causes students to be proud of their hard work and are excited for the next assignment. It’s so satisfying to see those leadership skills blossom in just one year! Have more questions?

Check out our ESL Teaching Glossary or contact us for personalized assistance. Continue learning with these related ESL teaching resources Explore these hand-picked resources that complement this article Check out our comprehensive glossary of ESL teaching terms and concepts. Join our community of passionate educators and get exclusive teaching tips, ready-to-use resources, and time-saving strategies delivered straight to your inbox. Be the first to know about new materials and elevate your teaching game!

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Here are powerful techniques to use both in the classroom and during school breaks to nurture their learning journey: School breaks are a prime opportunity to keep ESL learners engaged with the language in relaxed and fun ways: Remember: Motivated students are successful students. By creating a positive, encouraging environment focused on continuous learning–both within the classroom and out in the world– you’ll empower your ESL learners to reach their full potential. You’d attract bees with honey rather than vinegar—and the same idea applies to motivating the students in your ESL classroom. One of the toughest tasks a teacher can have on their plate is to motivate their students the right way.

This means motivating them from the inside rather than from the outside. Let me show you several classroom strategies that’ll bring out the best in your students and get them excited about learning English. Download: This blog post is available as a convenient and portable PDF that you can take anywhere. Click here to get a copy. (Download) Start at the beginning of the school year with clear rules.

Above all, you need to explain from day one that this is an English class, and English will be the medium of communication. Have realistic expectations too, depending on the language level of your students. Obviously, different age groups “ring the bell” concerning language or maturity levels. Your students also won’t develop their language at the same rate, face the same struggles, or excel in the same areas.

Motivating Esl Students Engaging Strategies For The Classroom

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