A classroom can be just a group of students sitting in the same space, or it can be a community.

n one, students show up, sit down, do the exercises, and leave. They might learn a bit, but they will not take risks or really invest. In the other, they know each other’s names, laugh together, cheer when someone gets it right, and share the odd inside joke. It’s warmer, more alive, and it makes learning easier for everyone - and more rewarding for you.

I have had both kinds of classes. The quiet, sli...