Teaching Tip : Stopping an Activity

How:

1. If you have a small enough group that you can be heard by everyone, just
   say something like "OK, you can stop there. Well done everyone. Thank you,
   you can stop now. Yes, that includes you, Giovanni!" Then give the students
   a few seconds to finish their sentences until the room falls quiet. Let them
   finish what they were saying.
   
   
2. If you have a big group so you won't be heard if you try talk over everyone
   then don't bother to shout yourself hoarse, simply have a certain place in the
   classroom where you go and stand when you want everyone's attention and
   go and stand in it. The students will stop talking very soon. (I stand in front
   of the board, facing the class which gets their attention because for the
   previous ten minutes or so I've been cruising round the room monitoring).
   You can explain to students at the beginning of the course, "When I want
   your attention I will stand here and you will stop what you are doing and
   listen to me because I don't like shouting for your attention. Is that clear"?

When:

1. It's not important if the students have finished the activity - it's the taking
   part that counts, as they say.
   
   
2. It's a good idea to stop things while they are going swingingly because it
   means you never hit the students' boredom threshold. Leave them wanting
   more and enthusiasm will remain high. On the other hand, don't stop it too
   soon because not everyone will have had a chance to speak or guess the
   answers yet so they'll feel cheated.