Boring ESL Teachers - What To Do

You've got an ESL teacher that you feel is boring. What are you going to do? In today's post, we'll look at the different ways ESL students can make their classes more interesting even though their instructor is boring.
Before you complain or say anything:

Think.

First,

What kind of lesson is it?

Grammar lessons and  test preparation courses (for TOEIC, IELTS, etc) aren't exactly interesting by themselves. Personally, I'm not a big fan of grammar based lessons. Grammar is simply a tool to help create good communication. 

Next,

Ask yourself:

Has the teacher tried to make her/his lesson interesting?

I was recently assigned to teach a grammar class. As you may know from an August blog post , I like talking board games. They can be used to practice one specific grammar point or help the teacher evaluate students' basic grammar skills. Sure, there are set rules for these games, but, they can be adapted or changed to make them more interesting. Plus, talking board games are free.

For myself, the results were mixed: some students didn't really enjoy the games, others used the games as a chance to practice their English communication skills and interact with classmates. The point is that an effort was made to make the lesson fun and encourage student-to-student talking time. 

After that, 

Think.

What Can You - The Student - Do? 

 Learning isn't a passive experience like watching TV. It's active and interactive. If your teacher is boring, start talking with your classmates. 

Don't be afraid to have fun, tell jokes, and act up in class either.

 Go online and look for games and you think your class might enjoy and will help with your ESL studies. A good teacher will always be open to students' ideas. The more you put in to the class, the better the class and your teacher will be. 

Don't be shy about talking to your teacher.

 You don't necessarily have to say, "Sorry, Teacher, but, you're boring." However, you can make suggestions or requests.

"Why don't we do (the role plays at the back of the book)?"

"I know a fun (game). Can we try it?"

"Could we (have more videos for our listening exercises)?"

Again, a good teacher will happily listen to your ideas. It shows that you are keen and enthusiastic about your ESL studies.