frameworks

How do you start a class? First of all, you introduce yourself and encourage the group members to introduce themselves too. Since this is necessary but often quite awkward, exactly because it is perceived as a must, it is best to put it in some unusual frame so you make them relax and forget about their uneasiness. 

Then, if it's not a formal (academic) class, which was announced and put together months before, the specific goals and the specific needs of the specific group members are fuzzy. Of course, they hired you to develop their language use or presentation skills or prepare them for a job or a trip, and so on, and you may even know an approximate level (say, A2 or B2 or C1, and so on). But before meeting the specific participants, you can only think in stereotypes and assumptions. What their strengths and weaknesses are, what they like and dislike, what experiences and frustrations they bring to class can largely influence how you need to plan the classes to be effective for them. And the earlier you get clear about these, the better you all will manage.

So, what I did with some of my business classes is that I made it clear on the first class that it is up to all of us how we organize the course. I shared the responsibility, thus trying to motivate them to take part in the class and in the learning process more actively (too often do I experience that learners like to consider themselves as customers and learning as a service, instead of realizing what it is: sweaty work).

After we discussed, based on the triggers in the presentation, what they wanted from the classes, and what rules we all keep, I filled the board with what we agreed on and sent them the outcome. Like a contract. "These are the frames we set together." Usually it is quite effective and can be the basis of mutual respect and trust.