Many of us may be teaching in situtations where our students are at home and we only get to see them through the computer. Building relationships with these students is a so important to teaching, especially in a foreign language. We have to build a community where students feel safe to share and speak. The more we can lower the affective filter that inhibits acquisition, the more success we will have with students. This can be difficult when they are not with us.
One of the first things that you can do is to introduce yourself and have students introduces themselves. It is important for them to get to know their fellow classmates and also who you are as their teacher. One way you can do is through an infographic that shows their picture and some information you want to know about them. Decide what you would like to know about them, make one yourself as an exemplar (so they can get to know you), and then have them create one of their own. Have the students comment on two or three other infographics as well. There are many free sites to create an infographic. One of those ways is PIKTOCHART. Here is one I created for Bugs Bunny. If you choose not to do this as an introductory activity, this could also be good for a character analysis from a story or book you are reading.
If you don’t like this activity, there are other ways you can get to know your students. You could have them make a video or a podcast. You could also use a discussion board or Padlet and have them introduce themselves in narrative form and allow other students to comment on them or ask them questions.
You won’t learn everything you want to know about your students right off the bat. As the year progresses, you might want to do icebreaker activities that allows students to share about themselves in a whole group setting. There are many icebreaker activities you can find online. You might choose to do this as a brain break.
Whatever you choose to do, it will help you get closer to your students and build a trusting bond that will help your students be successful.