3 ways to increase engagement in online language classes

There are so many ways, really. But these are my go-to activities when I want unmuted microphones and engaged students.

1. A trivia or quiz. Have you ever watched a trivia game TV show and found yourself answering the questions, even though you were not really in the game? There's something really engaging about trivias. If someone asks you how many Oscars Leo DiCaprio has won, you just HAVE TO answer. My favourtie website for this is sporcle.com , but there are so many to choose from.
2. Show and tell. Speaking about ourselves and being listened to is a great feeling. Ask your students to show you something they have in their homes, a photo of themselves as children, their faourite recipe, or ask for a google maps link of their favourite place in their hometown. Not only will they participate but also you will build some good rapport with these kinds of activities.
3. Research and retell. I've personally been trying this for years, and I can assure you that this is an engaging activity since the age someone is able to google. Ask students to find facts and information on a certain topic, give them a few minutes to do so, and then share their findings. My favourite one is when we search for biographical facts of a well-known person (Did you know that Newton's dog named Diamond burnt down part of his work by accidentally dropping a candle? If someone asks that on a trivia I'll be more than ready to answer!), but you can truly adapt this to any age, content and type of information you need.

There you go! You now have a group of energized, engaged people to propose anything you want. Have you tried any of these activities? Would you recommend any other?