How to create ESL Warm Up Activities for introverted students?

(for grade 9 and above) 

One of the objectives teachers have behind using activities in class is to create an interactive environment between students. 

While activities can be the best part of the lesson for extroverts, introverted students are not much of a fan of group activities. They prefer to work alone because they need quiet to concentrate and time to think. 

For a teacher who wants to create class activities that suit their unique personalities, let's have a look at an example of INTERACTIVE ACTIVITY FOR INTROVERTED STUDENTS, from which you will learn some TIPS mentioned below about how to create these activities. 

ACTIVITY: write what they think in a paper, anonymously, and share with the class, voluntarily

1. Students are given general real life statement, and they are given adequate time to write their own opinion about it. An example of such statement is: When people succeed, it's because of hard work. Luck has nothing to do with success. Here is a link that has useful examples of these sentences: https://www.kimstudies.com/agree-or-disagree.html

2. They give the teacher their papers without mentioning their names.

3. The teacher calls their name by turn, and each student just says whether their answer is "agree" or "disagree". Nothing more. 

4. Then the whole class play a game. The teacher asks each student by turn if they can recall any answer of their peers. For example: Mark says when his turn comes that he can recall if students A, B & C have chosen to agree or disagree with the statement. 

5. At the end, the teacher asks students if anyone wants to explain reasons of their choice, and a class discussion is opened. 

Highlights of the activity (tips for teachers):

1) Gives introverts time before the activity to reflect on themselves before sharing in front of the class. 

2) Gives them time to prepare their ideas and write them, as introverts prefer the organized writing than the abrupt speaking. 

3) All Students, including introverts, share their opinions by saying "agree" or "disagree" without the burden of justifying their answers, then the game creates fun and tension-free atmosphere.

4) It's a matter of choice to participate and talk about their answer. They won't feel the burden to participate. 

5) Speaking is the last step because by the end of the activity, the ice or tension is lessened, and students are more familiar with the nature of activity, so it's a little easier for the teacher to encourage discussions. 

Bottom line:

- Introverts have very unique personality teachers have to know how to deal with. 

- Every class activity can suit introverts when teachers:

• Give them time to prepare their ideas before class discussions. 

• Give them time to write their ideas. 

• Don't enforce students. Always give them the choice to participate. 

• If teachers aim at encouraging each student to speak and participate, it's advisable to achieve this through games that are not based on sharing too much personal opinions. 

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