If you teach English to undergraduates, you know the scenario all too well. That spark of curiosity in a student’s eyes for starting a new semester slowly dims under the weight of exam-focused syllabi and standardised testing. Class discussions shrink, essays become formulaic, and the process of learning a language is reduced to memorising rules for a high score. Students may learn to write correctly, but not to express themselves; they may know grammar, but not how to connect truly.
This is a common challenge in English in higher education, leaving many educators wondering how to make English classes engaging for college students.
As part of Viva Books’ mission to empower educators and learners, English & Me addresses this challenge head-on. This holistic English course book provides practical, interactive tools that help students explore their identity, build confidence, and use English in meaningful, real-world ways.
“This is not simply a course book. It is a space for learners to explore who they are and how they relate to the world around them.”
Let’s take a closer look at how English & Me could be the course book that transforms your classroom and makes a real difference in students’ learning.
The Philosophy: Teaching the Whole Person
English & Me approaches English in Higher Education not as a subject to be memorised, but as part of a learner’s growth as a whole person. Its philosophy rests on three pillars: emotional intelligence, multiple intelligences, and reflective learning.
Emotional Intelligence
Have you ever noticed how nerves can make a student stay quiet, while confidence makes them raise their hand? Emotions are directly tied to learning. English & Me uses integrated tools, like mood meters, to help students recognise and name their feelings, whether they’re excited, nervous, or curious.
Why does this matter?
- Stay ahead of challenges: By addressing issues early, you create a calmer, more positive classroom.
- Boost student engagement: Adapting lessons to students’ individual needs helps them focus and learn more effectively.
- Build stronger connections: Showing empathy and understanding strengthens trust with your students.
- Reduce your stress: When students manage emotions and resolve conflicts, your workload and burnout decrease.
- Create a safe, supportive space: Students feel confident to share ideas, take risks, and participate fully.
When students understand their own emotions, they become better communicators, not just in class, but in life.
Multiple Intelligences
Traditional classrooms often reward only one or two kinds of “smart” like being great at grammar or logic. But what about the student who learns visually? Or the one who grasps concepts through movement? Or the one who excels at understanding others?
English & Me includes activities for all types of learners:
- Visual Learners – Memory maps and graphic organisers boost recall by up to 30% and sometimes even more, helping learners see connections clearly.
- Bodily-Kinesthetic Learners – Role-plays and gesture-based feedback turn theory into action, which significantly improves skill acquisition and knowledge retention compared to traditional learning methods.
- Interpersonal Learners – Peer discussions and group tasks spark collaboration, improving comprehension and critical thinking in as little as 10 minutes of exchange.
- Intrapersonal Learners – Journaling and reflection deepen self-awareness, with studies showing reflective learners perform better on exams weeks later.
This means every single student can find a way into the language that works for them. It ensures no one is left behind.
Reflective Learning
Reflective learning is the process of pausing to think about, review, and internalise what has been learned, connecting new knowledge to personal experiences. Reflection deepens understanding, strengthens memory, and supports the development of the whole person with competence, conscience, and compassion.
English & Me incorporates journals, mind maps, and guided reflection prompts, giving learners structured opportunities to pause, explore their thoughts, and internalise lessons. This approach transforms language learning into a personal and lasting experience, rather than a series of isolated exercises.
The Practice: Tools That Transform
The true value of English & Me lies in its tools. Each is designed to solve common problems lecturers face in teaching English in Higher Education which is low participation, surface-level writing, or students who feel excluded by traditional methods.
Mood Meters → Start class with emotional check-ins
Many students arrive distracted, anxious, or unmotivated, which affects focus and participation.
Mood Meters give learners a simple way to name their emotional state at the start of class. This validates how they feel, builds emotional vocabulary, and allows teachers to adjust activities accordingly.
Memory Maps → Use visual storytelling to spark writing
When asked to write, students often struggle to generate ideas, leading to shallow or formulaic work.
Memory Maps use visual prompts to unlock memories and associations. Students sketch before writing, which sparks ideas and leads to richer, more personal expression.
Role-play & Gesture-based Feedback → Engage bodily-kinesthetic learners
Traditional lessons often leave bodily-kinesthetic learners disengaged, as they learn best by doing.
Role-plays place students in real-world situations (job interviews, debates, negotiations), making language practice authentic.
Gesture-based feedback keeps responses active and physical, encouraging participation from students who may struggle to speak up.
Group Discussions & Peer Feedback → Foster interpersonal growth
Some students rarely speak in class, while others dominate. Communication often feels one-directional, teacher to student.
Structured discussions and peer review create balanced opportunities for everyone to contribute. Learners practice listening as well as speaking, developing interpersonal skills alongside language fluency.
“Interpersonal learners flourish in peer conversations, group discussions, and feedback exchanges…”
Journaling & Reflection Prompts → Support intrapersonal learners
Fast-paced courses can leave students practising skills without connecting them to personal growth.
Reflection prompts encourage journaling, allowing learners to slow down, make meaning, and track progress. This particularly benefits intrapersonal learners who thrive on self-exploration.
This approach makes every activity purposeful: each tool tackles a barrier that often frustrates teachers and limits students. The result is a classroom that feels inclusive, dynamic, and genuinely connected to learners’ lives.
The Impact: What Educators Can Expect
- Increased Student Engagement
With tools like Memory Maps and role-play, your students become active contributors. They write and speak from personal experience, not just to “get it right” and it also lifts the pressure. Lessons come alive as learners lean in, stay focused, and participate enthusiastically. - More Authentic Communication
By connecting activities to real emotions, scenarios, and reflections, your students stop performing language and start using it meaningfully. Classroom discussions become genuine conversations, not rehearsed answers. - Stronger Emotional Literacy
Using tools like Mood Meters helps you normalise emotions in your classroom. Your students gain the words and strategies to describe and manage their feelings, becoming more resilient and confident communicators. - Inclusive Participation Across Learning Styles
Because activities engage multiple intelligences, every student finds a way to participate. Visual learners sketch, kinesthetic learners act, introverts reflect in journals, and extroverts thrive in discussion. Everyone can contribute, and nobody is left out.
Try It Yourself
You don’t need to overhaul your entire syllabus to see a difference. Pick just one tool from Viva English and me and try it in your next class. Start with a Mood Meter check-in, a memory map, or a short role-play, small steps can spark big changes.
By experimenting, you’ll see students engaging more, speaking more confidently, and connecting with the language in ways that feel personal and meaningful.
As the authors put it:
“Using English as both a tool and a companion in that journey.”
To learn more or purchase English & Me, visit the Viva Books website and discover the sample chapter today.
FAQs
1. How can I make English class engaging for university students focused on exams?
Move beyond the test-centric approach by connecting English to students’ lives. Tools like Mood Meters and Memory Maps spark personal expression, making language a tool for self-discovery rather than just a subject to be memorised.
2. What makes this approach to English in Higher Education different?
It focuses on teaching the whole person. This English coursebook for undergraduate learners integrates emotional intelligence and multiple intelligences, ensuring that students not only learn grammar but also connect it to their personal growth.
3. How does it help me teach a diverse classroom?
The book is built on multiple intelligences. Visual learners use Memory Maps, kinaesthetic learners engage in role-plays, and reflective learners use journals. This inclusive method is key to how to make English class engaging for college students with different strengths.
4. Are these tools difficult to add to my syllabus?
No. You can easily integrate tools, like a five-minute Mood Meter check-in or a Memory Map activity. These small, practical changes can significantly boost participation without a major syllabus overhaul.
5. How do Mood Meters and journals improve language learning?
They tackle the emotional and reflective sides of learning. Managing anxiety and connecting lessons to personal experience leads to deeper understanding and stronger retention, which is a core goal of English in Higher Education.
