Confidence is the key to success. No one has a second thought about this. Lack of confidence can spoil a student’s career. So it is very necessary that teaching methods should include confidence building measures in students at different levels. Most of the students face lack of confidence while speaking, reading and sharing their point of views in a larger group.
The most important thing in smooth learning process rests on the confidence of the students. If students don’t feel confident, they don’t learn things fast or gain the required speed and fluency they are expected of. Those who lack confidence generally say or complain that “It is not possible for me,” “This is not my cup of tea,” “I cannot be sharp,” “I am slow,” and “This I can’t do.” In order to build confidence in students, teachers shall adopt multi-pronged strategy. For enthusing confidence in students following measures could be of much help and can go a long way in boosting the confidence level of students:
- Let Students Speak First: Give students ample opportunities to speak in the classroom. Teachers can actively use different qualitative teaching activities like holding an informal conversation, presentations and also loud reading way to enthuse confidence in students. The moment students get some of the words from these activities, they come to realize that they are better understood and then they can be seen using the language while speaking in the classroom or any other place or occasion.
- Activities Should be Smooth: Teachers or instructors are advised that the learning activities that they are making use for building and enhancing confidence in students must be carefully selected. It should not be hard rather it should be smooth enough so that students can actively participate in them. It is wise to start with easy activities so that at each level students feel successful and gain something out of it. Such small but impressive activities will add more confidence in students in taking challenges ahead.
- Dealing with Overconfident Students: Overconfidence could be dangerous for students and this is one of the major problems teachers face in a classroom of students from diverse backgrounds and different levels. In a class, you may have a few students speaking and very active in other activities, and on every single occasion they find an opportunity to perform. This is good for those students but the less confident students and quieter ones would feel left behind. This may create a sense of alienation between the over confident ones and less confidents students. To curb such thing teachers shall maintain the tradition of giving equal chance to everyone to speak their mind and give preference to less confident ones to engage more with the activity. And in the entire process appreciating their contribution will certainly boost the confidence of those who generally don’t like to come upfront and feel that maybe their answer would be wrong and has no relevance.
- Use of Small Groups: It is a very wise idea to divide students in smaller rather than bigger groups while engaging them in any activity. In a small group, students find it easier to share their views and speak more. Once they realize that they can better perform in a small group, they can certainly perform better or speak more confidently in front of a bigger audience.