The most beneficial session that I have ever attended at CoTESOL has been "Improv" Your ESL Classroom given by Jon Wilkerson. The session gives teachers the tools to help students feel safe and committed to speaking and supporting classmates through graded group exercises. They are forced to use authentic language as the very engaging exercises get progressively more difficult.

The five principles of improv are to: Commit, Accept Offers, Listen, Support Others and Have Fun.

Guidelines for the teacher are: Unconditional positive regard, the teacher must not be critical of students decisions; Failure is okay, praise students for courage and effort; First into the breach, teacher must be over-the-top in word and action; Small steps, simple warm up exercises through strenuous exercises increase student's confidence and empowerment; Explain and demonstrate clearly, show students the activity to erase any doubt as to expectations.

After using this in my classroom, students often comment that it was the bestl class ever. Contact me for more information pollyvr@rof.net