#TeachersMatter Moment: Year 11 English Class, Lyceum No. 17, Chernivtsi

This week my Year 11 students and I explored a topic that goes far beyond grammar and vocabulary — how to communicate effectively and respectfully in English. Instead of a standard lesson, I decided to turn the class into a series of real-life communication challenges.

We started by discussing the difference between being assertive and being aggressive, and how tone, body language and word choice can completely change the meaning of the same sentence. Students then worked in pairs, acting out short scenarios — disagreeing with a friend, giving feedback to a colleague, asking for help — first the "wrong" way, then the "right" way. The room was full of laughter as some students deliberately overacted the clumsy versions, but the shift when they tried again "properly" was genuinely striking.

One moment stayed with me. A usually reserved student, who tends to avoid speaking in front of the class, took on the role of mediating a disagreement between two "colleagues." She handled it so calmly and thoughtfully — really listening, rephrasing what she heard, finding common ground — that the class spontaneously applauded. Afterwards, she admitted she'd never realised she could be good at that kind of thing.

We finished the lesson by building a shared list of phrases for polite disagreement, active listening and constructive feedback, which the students now keep taped inside their notebooks. It was a powerful reminder that teaching English isn't only about language — it's about giving young people the confidence and tools to be heard, and to truly listen to others.