Illustration: Xia Qing/GT

I was being interviewed on the phone for a teaching job in Beijing when I was asked how I would deal with Chinese students not speaking in class. I replied that they would speak a lot in my class. Silence on the other side. I also said that in my classes students would not be allowed to use pens and pencils. More silence. I was sure I had blown it.

I got the job somehow, and I kept my promise. The students never used pens and pencils, let alone play with their phones. There were no breaks. If they were late to class they would get a penalty. On the day of project presentations, 107 out of 108 students were present. The five-member learning team of the absent student was informed that all team members would get a 50 percent penalty for their project grade if the last member did not show. The student turned up very soon.

I look back at the results of my experience teaching in China. The class was one of the best I have taught in decades. The students were hard-working and intelligent, but what astonished my school management was that in response to my hundreds of questions asked at a blistering pace, almost the entire class was fighting to answer, confounding the stereotype of the silent, reserved Chinese student.

There are five tips that I developed from my success.

First and foremost, you cannot teach only on the basis of intellect. You must develop an emotional bond with the class, because only then will they really listen to you. For this you need to motivate them and know every student by name and face.

Second, burn all power points as they are evil. They were invented only to destroy the learning experience.

Third, you have to be funny. What can be worse than a boring teacher? I guess a boring husband. Think of yourself as an actor and your class as a stage. I know it may come as a shock to many teachers, but I remember the great line of my colleague at Cranfield, UK - Professors are "acteurs manques" (failed actors). Students love actor-teachers with humour, wit and a little drama.

Fourth, give up the idea that you are a gift to humanity, Confucius and Einstein combined. I suggest giving students a higher evaluation in class participation if they differ from you.

Finally, give them cases based on real business situations. If the content is interesting they will find it easier to share their views. I gave them a case about a talented manager who misunderstood his boss and resigned without notice. The class could not stop sharing their views.

The above approach is not hurdle-free. You will need a good teaching assistant who can take notes on class participation (CP). You have to grade CP. Students who do not wish to speak may feel frustrated, but you have to trust the case method and let students bloom.

This means controlling your own ego to some extent. You will also need to control the direction, velocity and tone of the discussion which can quickly get out of hand.

This article was published on the Global Times Metropolitan section Two Cents page, a space for reader submissions, including opinion, humor and satire. The ideas expressed are those of the author alone, and do not represent the position of the Global Times.