How to Moderate Engaging English Rooms:
Before you open a room/conversation:
1.Decide on a title- make sure you clearly set out the parameters. Like going to the store, we choose magazines based on the headlines.
2. Observe other rooms, learn from what you feel the mods do well, and note the things you think the mods could have done differently.
3. If you have comods, set up a back channel on instagram or whatsapp etc to communicate with them behind the scenes.
4. When you start your room welcome everyone to the room, tell them briefly what the topic is, let them know how long the room is going to run for-- so people know what to expect.
b. If you’re inviting discussion, set out the order clearly, whether you’re inviting people to speak based on PTR (pull to refresh) so people can see where they are in line to speak.
c. Stick to the topic—if the topic is carrots and someone starts talking about pineapples too much, invite them to open a different room to have a discussion at a later date.
5. Let people speak—don’t be afraid to pause to allow people to organize their thoughts. Invite input from the audience.
6. Speak a little bit slower than usual if that helps, use clear and simple language.
7. Be sensitive to your audience-culture etc.
8. Make the room comfortable—reset (re-introduce the topic and room) on a regular interval so people who have just joined understand what’s going on. You can summarize what’s been said so far at specified intervals.
9. If people are abusive or really offensive you can long tap on their profile photo and block them, if they are just disruptive you can opt to boot them out of the room, and you can invite them in later on.
10. Ask people’s experiences and ask people to talk about themselves
How to get discussions going? Mention one or two positive things about people as we refresh the rooms and encourage people to follow each other,
11. Tell a story—have a story library you can draw on. People react really well to storytelling!
13. When opening English conversation rooms, Make your questions relatable-childhood memories etc.
14. Thank people for their patience
Champion your room! Reset the room then ask the person who is overly dominant if they want to contribute to the topic, if they don’t have anything to contribute directly, they can always open their own room on the topic they would like to discuss.
15. Take the time to explain how the room works at intervals because people come in and out.
16. When joining a room, network respectfully, don’t plug your website then leave.
17. There is a Big difference between a great moderator and a great speaker--you don’t have to be both :).
18. Have at least 2 moderators, and 2 great speakers that can contribute a lot to get discussions going.
19. If people start talking over the top of each other, Say out loud “one mic”-- everyone goes silent usually
If you don’t like something, you can always leave.
20. Be respectful!
21. Communicate with people off clubhouse--DM them to connect and thank them for joining your room etc.
22. Invite people, run rooms with warmth and create a comfortable atmosphere.
23. People can hear the smile in your voice when you speak :).
