Silence says the most... Assimilation- what is it?

''A secondary teacher turned university academic has highlighted the benefits of silence in the classroom.

As the pace of modern life grows more and more frenetic, Dr Helen Lees has become increasingly convinced that silence creates an atmosphere of calm and helps to improve pupils’ concentration, well-being and attainment.

She draws a distinction, however, between “strong” and “weak” silence. While the former is a deliberate stillness, where pupils are encouraged to sit and reflect, the latter is an enforced quiet, where teachers impose silence. Dr Lees told SecEd: “To achieve strong silence in the classroom is about people first talking together and agreeing to enter into silence, to use it, to respect it, even encourage it.'' - www.sec-ed.co.uk

As a TEFL teacher , I have often found that silence seems to worry students and teachers alike. 

It is a most common- place situation where a question is asked by a teacher and followed with silence on the part of the student. The question is then most often rephrased by the teacher- under the assumption that the student did not understand. We often neglect to realise that the student may be assimilating-translating the question, trying to understand what was said or searching for the English words for his or her answer.

My point being, silence is needed in the E.S.L classroom- take time as students, to answer after a period of silence. As teachers, allow silence for thought. If we as teachers respond too quickly after a short bout of silence- the students learn that answers will be given for them if they are quiet for too long a time.

As students- whilst assimilating/ thinking up answers- when ''stuck'' for a word- try to talk around it- it has happened many a time, that a student has been most creative in answering- ''talking around'' the word that just can't be found in that precise moment-

Two simple examples :

’A place that is warm, is small, comfortable and has a sofa in it: the living room.’’

'' It makes you cry when you cut it...It is very tasty when you put it in a pan- Its small and round: an onion.''