HOW TO KEEP YOUR STUDENTS MOTIVATED IN COVID TIMES Lockdowns, rules, more rules, social distance and lack of happy moments also affects our students (and ourself). Probably you have experienced this as well: Students cancel lessons, because they don't feel well or they miss doing homework. While having a lesson, some students look kind of depressed, sad, they cannot concentrate very well. Or you just feel as a teacher, that something is wrong. I am teaching over three years on italki and yes, something has changed. HOW TO MOTIVATE YOUR STUDENTS So what can you do as a teacher, to motivate your students and have a good, positive and fun lesson? I often start the lesson with just a normal small talk, like you have to a good friend. Not asking questions all the time but also telling something about you! Or your day! And i ask my students, what have you done today, to feel good? Or what gives you a good feeling? (Like eating chocolate, Yoga, Running, Music, Painting, etc.) . Often they do always the same things, or work from home and just spend to much time sitting.. And just thinking about, what can you do today, to have a happy moment helps, to improve your mood and energy. I have students who are open up and feel bad about these times and just want to talk a bit. What is totally ok, because talking (german in my case) is the main goal and not just doing Grammar and Textbook Stuff, right? Ask your students about their morning routine. What are you doing every morning? Pranajama, Yoga, some exercises, etc. I show them even what i am drinking first of all in the morning (Water with fresh lemmon). Inspire your students. Give them something to think about, be more entertaining in these times while a social life is hard to live. It all helps you as a teacher, to have a good lesson as well, and thats the goal, right? To have fun, to laugh together. Daniel