Throughout my academic journey, I’ve noticed that traditional classroom dynamics often reward vocal participation, group activities, and rapid engagement. While these structures work well for many students, a significant minority of introverts and those with social limitations or disorders are marginalized by default. Their participation is often perceived as ‘less engaged or even weak in mental abilities’ simply because they do not fit within conventional social expectations.
i think in pre-design, designing a classroom activity where participation is diverse, offering students the choice between, for example, written reflection, small-group discussions, or silent observation with a follow-up contribution—-such as the quit room room idea in the introductory session- This approach acknowledges and honors different communication styles, ensuring that every voice is heard without pressure to conform.
By shifting the norm, we create environments where introverts and students with social limitations are not just included, but valued with their special presence
Hi, Mariam! I’m Heather, and I’m participating in this year’s IEH series, too. I teach English at a university in Germany. For many years, I tended to privilege the more extroverted learners in my classes. I was (and am) always grateful to students who have the courage to say something in front of the whole class in the target language. It’s hard to say something to a large group of people and doubly so in a foreign language. But a few years ago, after reading “Embracing the Introverted Brain” by Heather McCulloch, I started integrating classroom activities that support more introverted learners (e.g., Think-Pair-Share tasks). Another really useful article by Heather McCulloch is “Universal Design for Learning and Introverts in a Language Classroom.” I think both articles are good reads for anyone who teaches or facilitates, and not just language teachers. So, if you have time, maybe take a look:
– https://www.mindbrained.org/2020/02/embracing-the-introverted-brain/
– https://www.mindbrained.org/2024/10/universal-design-for-learning-and-introverts-in-a-language-classroom/
Hi Mariam,
Thanks for sharing these thoughts. I agree that making space for everyone’s ideas is so important. Your post reminded me of Cora Beth Fraser’s Relaxed Tutorial Project at The Open University https://www5.open.ac.uk/scholarship-and-innovation/fasstest/blog/relaxed-tutorial-project-new-way-looking-accessibility-distance-learning.