How can classroom teachers help students lower their 1st Class Anxiety? What classroom factors/conditions will make the students feel more comfortable and relaxed? Students suggested that there are at least three ways a teacher can try: teacher behavior (verbal & nonverbal), knowledge of their instructor/peers, and ice-breaking activities.
Teacher behavior (verbal & nonverbal)
Teacher classroom behavior includes both verbal and nonverbal behavior. Verbal behavior includes ways the teacher approaches to the students, ways the teacher responds to the students’ comments, questions, suggestions, and the interaction between the students and the teacher. Nonverbal behavior includes the teacher’s facial expressions (e.g., smile, eye contact, laugh), body language, and physical movement.
Our teacher came to class and greeted us with a smile. Her smile made me feel much more comfortable. -- Nancy, Jan 15, 2008, EDCI 6304
Once I saw Ms. Boyanton, however, I felt better. She smiled and was very friendly and my mood immediately changed. -- Rose, Jan 15, 2008, EDCI 4322-60
Although I walked into class an hour late due to an unknown classroom change, I felt motivated when I walked in because the professor welcomed me right away. She made me feel at ease and quickly caught me up with the class by pairing me up with an interviewing partner. -- Mina, Jan 16, 2008, EDCI 6304
…the professor entered and she seemed very pleasant. She was smiling and looked like an easy going person. It put at ease, somewhat. Her personality and character created a comfortable classroom setting -- Rose, January 17, 2008, EDCI 4322-01
Knowledge their instructor
As the class started and the teacher began to introduce herself, I felt more relaxed. --Cathy, Jan 15, 2008, EDCI 4322-60
Once the professor introduced herself then my feelings changed immediately. I saw Dr. Boyanton with a big smile and that counts a lot because my anxiety went down.—Nana, 2008, EDCI 4322-60
I felt so much better after the teacher introduced herself and told a little bit about her background and explained what she expected of us. -- Rose, January 17, 2008, EDCI 4322-01
Knowledge of the peers
I was walking to class and saw a friend who is also registered for this course. When he told me that he was registered for this same class, I felt much more comfortable because I was not going to be by myself in this new experience. -- Nancy, Jan 15, 2008, EDCI 6304
When we were discussing some key points of what was learned during the presentation, I can honestly say I felt comfortable talking to the class. I felt comfortable because I at least new everyone’s name. -- Guzman, Jan 16, 2008, EDCI 6304
For the rest of the class, I felt relieved because I knew more people whom I have never seen them before. It all began when Dr. Boyanton told us to ask questions to the person beside us. This technique was really helpful for breaking the ice. At the end of the class, I was already talking and knowing them. -- Nana, Jan 15, 2008, EDCI 4322-60
…at the beginning of the class I had described myself as being shy, but after tonight's class I learned that after giving the short presentation with my group that I am not as shy as I thought. Speaking in front of strangers can be nerve wrecking, but I felt more comfortable than I thought I would. -- Ana, Jan 15, 2008, EDCI 6304, EDCI 4322-60
Then everyone in the classroom had the opportunity to introduce one student to the class. I liked the idea of having to choose someone to introduce yourself to and get to know them as well. I realized that I get less nervous talking about another person rather than about myself to the class. -- Rose, January 17, 2008, EDCI 4322-01
I was glad we were asked to find a new friend and introduce each other in front of the class before we did anything else. Once we took a break and came back to play the name game, everyone seemed much more relaxed and happy. Everyone was much more talkative and looked much more friendly. – Maggie, Jan 15, 2008, EDCI 4322-60
When I first walked into class I felt a little loss …But once I sat down and noticed some familiar faces I felt OK.-- Hector Galvan, Jan 16, 2008 EDCI 6304
At the beginning of class, I was anxious to find out how the atmosphere of the class would be and then we got to introduce our partner and then I was relaxed…It was not awkward at all because we were introducing someone else and not ourselves. It is always good to hear what other people will put together about you even though they have only spoken with you for a few minutes. -- Red, January 17, 2008, EDCI 4322-01
However, I felt at ease when told to introduce myself to another person, I didn’t have the pressure of doing it on my own. I was told how to do to it by my professor which made the situation much better. I feel that everyone in the class room gained a lot by participating in the introduction ice breaker and by playing the name game.-- Ally, Jan 15, 2008, EDCI 4322-60
I start feeling comfortable; the fun began when we present each other and then present your new friend to the class. It was a very good activity because we get to know a little of each one in the class.—Aran, Jan 16, 2008, EDCI 4322-01
I really enjoyed this game because I was able to learn my peer’s names. It makes me feel more comfortable to be able to call them by their names.—Aura, Jan 16, 2008, EDCI 4322-01
Ice-breaking activities (E.g., Name Game)
I really enjoyed the activities we did in class today. It was the most upbeat class I have ever attended. The major activity of the day was the Name Game…The activity was very successful because now we know each other. We were able to joke with each other, and that broke the ice allowing us to share our opinions freely at the end during the group discussion. -- Eldon, Jan 14, 2008, EDCI 4322-60
The first class meeting was very fun and exciting. I felt that with the activities that were done in class made it interesting and enjoyable. The method that we used to introduce ourselves was different than it is usually done. I thought that having someone else talk about us was a good way of being introduced as well as meeting someone new and learning some things about that person as well. Through this activity we were able to find that most of the students had many similarities in the way that we felt about going into the teaching profession. This was a great ice breaker to make all the students feel comfortable. I believe that it had a great turnout because all the students felt welcomed.-- Kristy, Jan 16, 2008, EDCI 4322-01
After we introduced our names, I was feeling very motivated, excited, and looking forward to know all our students’ names. We shared our background also. I noticed most of the students were getting anxious of course, but at the end of the class I was pleased and surprised to see that the students became comfortable and confident when they wanted to speak out and share their comments for feedback during the presentation after the name game.-- AB, January 17, 2008, EDCI 4322-01
At the end of the game it was exciting to know everyone’s name and I felt so comfortable when I was put in a group for the following assignment. I truly believe every teacher should use this technique the first day of class.-- Rose, January 17, 2008, EDCI 4322-01
On the first day of class I felt excited at one point. For example when we were told we were going to play a game we all probably got excited why? Because games were meant to be fun and exciting there are very few boring and not wanted to play games. The first day of class was also motivating because everyone in the classroom was not scared to participate. Since the moment I got to class and played the name game it seemed to me like if the class was forming a community were everyone gets involved and nobody left behind.-- Rod, January 17, 2008, EDCI 4322-01
The professor told us we were playing a game which consisted of saying your name and related it to something or someone. I enjoyed the game so much that I just felt better about the whole class. --Cathy, Jan 15, 2008, EDCI 4322-60
I really enjoyed the Name Game. This activity made me feel very comfortable with everybody else in the class. All of us sat in a circle which made it good because we were all able to see each other when we were speaking. The activity helped us learn our classmates’ names and at the same time we were having a good time.—Ali, Jan 15, 2008, EDCI 4322-60
This activity was fun and was used as an ice breaker; it definitely made me feel more at ease. I also enjoyed the fact that The Name Game was played in our class. The interviewing activity and The Name Game made me feel more comfortable and at ease because I was able to learn everybody’s names and something about them. By knowing my classmates’ names, I will be able to talk to them with confidence. --Mina, Jan 16, 2008, EDCI 6304
To read more about 1st Class Anxiety:
1st Class Anxiety: the Phenomenon
1st Class Anxiety: Why?
1st Class Anxiety: Good or Bad?
1st Class Anxiety: the Solutions
1st Class Anxiety: the Reality
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