2013/10/13

Title: Classroom Management Strategies for Reluctant Learners: Deconstructing and Working with Student Silence

Speaker: Susan Bergman Miyake

Susan Bergman Miyake decided to put aside the usual, more sexy topics of content and language learning theories to talk about the elephant in the room; classroom management. Specifically, she lectured on how to interpret, manage and respond constructively to students who seemingly will not answer, even to say "I don't know", no matter how long they are given. To begin, Bergman Miyake invited attendees purge their negative feelings about these students while listing these on the board. Faced with a list of negativity ranging from "frustrating" to "hostages", attendees were then asked to transform this list into a positive one: replacing "inactive" with "present", "quiet" with "thinking". Paramount is for teachers to refuse to give up on individual learners and to deal with awkward moments constructively. Using heartbreaking stories from students she has taught in the past, Bergman Miyake showed attendees that there is always a meaning behind the silence. Understanding that meaning, and thereby that student, is the first step to building the skills, confidence and motivation necessary for students to participate.

Susan Bergman Miyake is a lecturer at Hakuoh University in Oyama. She teaches courses in English Communication, Creative Writing, Pronunciation, and Presentation, using content based, cooperative learning, and experiential approaches. Currently she is also exploring the use of iPads and cell phones in the language classroom.