• Effective and Ineffective Praise of Students for Motivation

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(This article was originally published in MET (Modern English Teaching) in the March/April 2026 issue.)  MET website

I realize now that I probably had been making a mistake over the past decade of teaching, according to research.

In my Advanced ESL Writing course, every term, I usually had one or two outstanding writers. I wanted to compliment those students at the end of the course with the hope that it could motivate them and give them a positive attitude going forward. On those students’ final essays, I often wrote. “You are a talented writer.” That was not a good idea. I recently learned why, and also, what kinds of compliments would be better.

Research has shown that complimenting students “appropriately” can motivate them and can strengthen our relationship with them.  However, certain types of compliments can unintentionally cause pressure on them.

In one study, after 117 undergraduates took a verbal reasoning test, they received one of three types of written feedback:

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Short, Human-Interest Articles for Extensive Reading: # 20: “Your Type of Friends Are More Important for Your Future Than a Famous College”

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  Many people believe a common idea: To get a great job and make the most money, you must go to a famous, top college. People think these schools are best because they have the best teachers. But studies show that something else is more important than great teachers. It is the type of friends and classmates that we have.

In one study, researchers looked at students with high grades. They found that these students had roommates and friends who studied a lot. In fact, when new students got new roommates, they changed each other’s habits very quickly. Students with roommates who liked to party and drink alcohol started to party more, too. But students with serious roommates became more serious students themselves.

Another famous study asked a different question: Does a famous college really help students more in life?….(See complete article below.)

(This posting includes a handout LINK AT THE END OF THIS POST which you are welcome to use with your students.) *

For background information about these articles and for suggestions for how to use them with your students, see  • Introducing “Short, High-Interest Readings”  Also, I’ll be adding more of these articles in the right-hand column: ESL Reading> Short, High Interest Articles for Extensive Readings

Here is the 20th article. You can download the article for your students by clicking on the link at the end. Also included are three optional exercises: True-False Questions; Paraphrasing Exercise; Reflection Exercise.

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“It Worked, David!” — A Practical Strategy for Starting and Ending Conversations (Updated for 2026)

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(This posting includes a handout which you are welcome to use with your students.) *

I couldn’t believe what I was seeing, or more accurately, what I was hearing.

One of my shyest students, Eri, sat down next to Liam and said, “I like your backpack.” Liam smiled, opened a secret compartment to show her, and by the time class began, Eri was beaming.

Later, as students were leaving, Anika stopped me and said, “It worked, David!” When I asked what she meant, she told me about waiting at the bus stop the day before. She’d noticed a friendly‑looking older woman and tried something new: “Excuse me. Could I ask you a question?” A short exchange about the Number 8 bus turned into a pleasant conversation about stores at the mall.

I shouldn’t have been surprised. These small but meaningful moments happen often after my students did the activity “Starting and Ending a Conversation.”

Helping students develop this strategy (including a downloadable activity to use with your students).

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Short, Human-Interest Articles for Extensive Reading # 19: “Kindness Makes People Look More Beautiful”

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You are on a bus at a bus stop watching passengers get on. A middle-aged woman gets on and sits near you. You notice that she looks just like a normal woman about her age. Two bus stops later, an elderly man who is slowly walking with a cane gets on. Immediately, the middle-aged woman jumps up, smiles and gives the man her seat. As you observe the woman now standing, you notice that she is actually quite attractive.

Researchers have found that your experience is common. When a person does something kind and helpful, they will look more physically attractive to us  ….(See complete article below.)

(This posting includes a handout LINK AT THE END OF THIS POST which you are welcome to use with your students.) *

For background information about these articles and for suggestions for how to use them with your students, see  • Introducing “Short, High-Interest Readings”  Also, I’ll be adding more of these articles in the right-hand column: ESL Reading> Short, High Interest Articles for Extensive Readings

Here is the 19th article. You can download the article for your students by clicking on the link at the end. Also included are three optional exercises: True-False Questions; Paraphrasing Exercise; Reflection Exercise.

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