Nice post. I agree completely. I've often wondered about how to best deliver new material to my students. You're right, AO. Students' first impressions of new and difficult material determines if that material makes into their noodles on the first take or will require several repeats. I teach at a gov't school in Thailand. I've used 'fun and games' (Bozo's Way) with some material, and I've used a more 'reserved' delivery with other material. I think BOTH ways are important, and here's why:

1. Bozo's Way does help younger learners overcome that ever-present 'inferiority complex' with which all my Thai students seem to be plagued. My making my students laugh seems to make them forget, if only for a few moments, their belief inside that 'they can't do it'. I've seen amazing things in my classes when my kids have acted like hyenas.

2. The 'reserved' way is important to remind students they need to make an extreme effort to learn English. Our 'climb' up the English mountain was like an easy walk up a 10-degree slope. For my students (who have no contact with native speakers other than me), learning English is like climbing straight up a sheer rock face--it's slow and definitely NOT easy. Practice, practice, practice we all tell our students. Well, that's boring, boring, boring to a Thai student. I think using a 'boring' approach sometimes is a good way to get my students 'used' to the fact that learning English is, at times, BORING. If they accept this, they may very well develop the initiative to practice, practice, practice on their own. It's hard....after all, I teach in Thailand where 'charm' is the key.