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Building Confidence in StudentsHenry Ford once said: ?Whether you think you can or think you can't - you are right.? This is a statement that relates directly to the classroom and the importance of student self-confidence. student self-confidence plays a significant role in the future success and academic achievements of the learner. First it is important to understand exactly how confidence can affect a students? performance, and second, to learn just how teachers can help to build confidence in their students. Studies have shown that ?in particular, positive interaction with native speakers builds student confidence, leading to the end result of improved ability.? (Dr. Wu. 10). students with confidence are more likely to take risks in language production. They may display more inaccurate information through trial and error, however their participation and willingness to share their opinions gives the teacher an opportunity to correct them and allow the students to learn from their mistakes. Having confidence also leads to a diminished amount of negative feelings and behaviours including: feelings of insecurity, humiliation, a lack of participation and/or poor attendance. A student who is confident is a student who will actively learn in the classroom. Confidence is not something that individuals either possess or lack. Instead, the teacher plays a vital role in the classroom by helping students to build self-confidence. There are a number of ways that this can be done by the teacher. Teachers should ensure that when teaching new vocabulary or reviewing existing vocabulary that they take the time to do 3X3 drilling; where they repeat the word 3 times with the class and then ask 3 students to repeat the word individually. By doing this, you allow the students to practice pronouncing the vocabulary aloud but with background noise so as to avoid embarrassment and counteract shyness. By drilling before having the students complete a classroom speaking or worksheet activity, you are giving them the immediate confidence in being able to pronounce and remember the words associated with the lesson. Another way to help build students confidence is by playing games and organizing activities in the classroom to help create an environment where students enjoy spending time and don?t feel uncomfortable, shy, or uneasy when asked to participate in the class. The last, but not only, way to help students build confidence is by giving praise when it is warranted and by taking the time to point out their achievements and just how far they have come in learning the English language. Depending on the age group and level of the students, the praise can come in the form of stickers, names on the board, positive comments on a report card, individual meetings, or general class talks. These suggestions are not exhaustive. Specific groups will react differently to the same activities. It is important as a teacher that you continuously seek feedback from the students to ensure that you are in fact helping them to build their confidence in their own abilities. Use the feedback provided by the students, cultural information, group tendencies, and school policies to come up with your own ways to help foster a confidence building environment for the students. It isn?t difficult to understand and see the correlation between student confidence and academic success. The important thing from now on, as teaching professionals, is to work every day at building up student confidence and to support the students in ways that help them to support themselves. Whether you choose to use the suggestions provided or come up with your own, keep the end goal in mind: a confident student is a successful one. Works Cited: Making English a ?Habit?: Increasing Confidence, Motivation and Ability of EFL students Through Cross-Cultural Computer Assisted Interaction. Dr. Wen-chi Vivian WU. The Department of the English Language, Literature and Linguistics.Providence University, Taiwan. Confidence Quotes. Henry Ford. Jan 16, 2011. (http://www.quotegarden.com/confidence.html) ITTT ? tefl course. Units 1-20.
