• Variety. Change games and activities regularly. Variety will catch students' attention, which sometimes is unfortunately low.
• Vary the rythm of the class, I mean, combine activities which require a lot of energy with those which are more relaxed. This way your students will not get bored or overexcite.
• Repeat and check. Check the content as a regular feedback. Thus, students won't forget studied topics and functions.
• Include activities which involve physical movement. They are motivating and permit to remember more easily studied topics.
• Try that many students win in games to keep them committed to the class.
• Never tell students that they have fail or that they are the worst students you have ever taught to. If you do it, be sure that they will not learn in your class.
• Elaborate your own material; include puppets, drawings, bingos, pictionaries, etc. Surprise your students taking an odd object or animal that could raise curiosity among them.
• Use songs, rhymes and poetry.They are funny, pronunciation is practiced and a lot of phrases can be learned from them.
• Focuse attention to speaking, starting with short phrases and rising the level gradually to more complex structures.
• Avoid the abuse of abstract concepts. They can be confusing. Use simple things according to the level of students and which represent clear ideas.
• Reaffirm"please" and "thank you" at any moment. Be positive and polite in your class, a friendly atmosphere between teacher students is the more adequate for learning to take place.
• You must always have materials prepared and ready to use.
• Plan your lessons. This is a crucial secret of effective teachers. Include plan B and also C, just in case.
• Be flexible. If something is not working, change the activity or game.
• Involve, always, shy students in activities and games.
• Use real objects in class (realia), including garments, food, etc. If you can not take realia to class, use colorful pictures or drawings which represent objects in real life.
• When you are writing on the whiteboard, keep talking. Many students take advantage of these moments to do whatever thing instead of the activity.
• Share and analize experiences, materials, suggestions, techniques, strategies, lesson plans, etc. with collegues.
• Plan regular Academy reunions to share experiences and to solve problems related to teaching languages.

• 1.-Identitfy failure early and act on it. This includes getting evidence of students level and abilities within the first week of class through testing, in class writing, and interviews.

• 2.-Confront the student privately with facts (test papers, lack of study and homework, class requirements including time, etc.) Many students are anxious to deny there is a problem. "Don't worry teacher. No problem." Be specific and blunt. "There is not a single correct sentence in this composition." Also use your judgement. Some students need this more than others.

• 3.-Get the student to verbalize her own problem and identify causes and solutions. Don't allow the student to minimize the problem. Analyze the problem with the student. This self recognition is the key to any self program. The student must recognize the problem and decide she wants to fix it.

• 4.-Listen. Be honest and direct in your responses. Offer respect and encouragement. Listen and look with great attention. Look at the distance a student holds the book from him as he reads. Listen to what she says about her study time. Let the time you spend with this student be exploratory. You may have only seen symptoms of the problem, but not have any idea of its source.

• 5.-Help the student create a plan of action with realistic goals. Help her to move back to a reasonable starting place. Help her develop steps to reaching her goal. Don't guarantee her a passing grade. Offer her a chance to make progress.

• 6.-Make sure the student adopts the plan as his own set of goals and responsabilities. Let him write or articulate his plans. Check carefully to see if you are on the same track. Make sure he includes his own ideas.

• 7.-Follow up on the plan daily or each time you meet. Let the student know you are interested in her succes. Congratulate her on daily successes in front of others if it's appropiate. "Your grammar was much better in this chapter." "This is your highest grade this term." Your reinforcements can become less regular as the student improves.

• 8.-Remind the student his goals. Be positive, but firm. Don't reinforce the student's bad reputation. Don't make negative comments in front of the class, but do ask him to come and see you. He may need help. Watch for backsliding. Old habits are hard to break.

• 9.-Be a resource. Offer or locate additional instruction and materials at an appropiate level. Keep files to help you come up with materials easily. Peer tutors are another valuable tool. Know what other classes and community resources are available to help a student in need.

• 10.-Vary your approach to help keep students interested and to accommodate varied learning styles, and intelligences. Give your failing students a chance to shine. Don't lower your standards to accommodate a student who is "working hard." Your whole class will benefit from this step.

• 11.-Acknowledge growth even when it does not include a passing test or class. Make sure you spend time with that student before she receives an F on a major paper, a test, or the class. A minute before class begins is all it takes to say "Those passive verbs are still really hard for you, but I could see you worked on them. Let's try again." Once again, let the student verbalize his own growth. "Do you read better now than you did nine weeks ago?" "Yes, I do. I know more words, and I read better." Don't give a student a passing grade for trying hard. It only takes her to a harder, more impossible level.

• 12.-Keep a professional look. If you have followed this plan, you have done your best. The student is responsible for his successes and failures.

• 1.-Ask high expectations questions. Don't lower the level in class. Some professors say "Plan for advanced students".
• 2.-When you ask a question, wait until the student answers correctly. Stop asking if that student is thinking or has not completed the answer. This is related to high level learning. It includes full sentences when answering.
• 3.-Checking homework contributes a lot to high level learning. If you check homework carefully, students will do them better.
• 4.-One of the main challenges is to create intrinsic motivation in our students. It can be done through elaboration of materials. If materials catch the attention, your students will be more committed to your class.
• 5.-Send reports of students' performance to parents periodically. Also include discipline facts or congratulations. Elaborate a format which has to be signed by parents and turned in back.
• 6.-You also can reward the whole group for being disciplined and hardworking. Maybe some rows or small groups of students are working harder, they should have some kind of reward.

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