2 Encouragement:
I gained useful information from my colleague Liu Xia's article:
'Encouragement can turn a coward into a hero'.(p2)
I remember the first time I invited Dr. Laidlaw to listen my class, she noted down:
Ma Li Xia (my student) stands up and talks well. She is a great student and I hope you praise her. I heard answer she is using some of the new vocabulary as well. But you just tell her to set down. No, you must praise her. Spend a little time telling her and the class how proud you are of your student when they volunteer.
I thought what a mistake I made! Without praise and encouragement, they would lose interest in their study. Although I am a teacher and they are students we are all human beings, and everyone needs praise and encouragement. From then on, in every class, I believe I never forgot to praise and encourage them. I found it was better than before. For example, a student told me:
"You never abuse or punish us, no matter answer was right or not, you smile and say Good/ Well done! We felt you were lovelier than before".
I was so happy because it is repayment from my students. It also helped me to be a better teacher.