Pine, Michigan TESOL Online & Teaching English Jobs

Managing a class comes with its own set of challenges which can differ depending on the class. Some factors that influence how the teacher manages the class would be students' age, nationality, and motivation for being in the class. However in any classroom setting there are intrinsic ways to manage the class and ensure that the students are learning in the best possible environment. Establishing rapport is one of the most important things a teach can do for the students in the beginning because it will influence how the students feel about the class as a whole, which will affect how they learn. Students will get more out of a class where they feel like they can get along with each other and with the teacher. The general atmosphere of the class may ultimately be determined by the students but it is influenced by the teacher. Another part of managing a class is the physical arrangement of the room, depending on the space the teacher may have a lot or little control over this aspect. In some cases the classroom is set up in orderly rows which is good for large class sizes and can be a familiar classroom set up for the students. In my opinion, the ideal classroom set up would be the circle or horseshoe, which works better for smaller class sizes. As the lesson states this arrangement can allow the students to be more focused on the lesson because it makes the class space more intimate and the teacher will appear less domineering. Students in this set up will have an easier time engaging with each other and getting into pairs or groups. The way in which students are grouped will also have an effect on the learning process and how the teacher can manage it. Grouping the class as a whole can create a good sense of belonging for all the students and is good for when the teacher needs to be in control of the present activity. Grouping the whole class can reduce student talk time which is a drawback. Students can work individually during the study phase which can be beneficial in the way that it helps them become more self reliant. Working individually can, however, reduce student to student interactions. Pair work and working in groups are the best way to engage student to student interactions because they are communicating directly and it can help take some pressure off of the individuals when they are sharing the work. Pairs and group work also allow the students to share ideas and potentially correct each other before they share with the whole class and the teacher is able to monitor each group as needed. One drawback of group work or working in pairs is that it can increase the noise level in the class which can be difficult for concentration and the students may be tempted to revert to their native language. Giving individual attention may be difficult to balance but it is important for the teacher not to single out any students and include them all equally in the activities. It is okay for the teacher to spend extra time helping an individual who is stuck but not so much that it takes away from the other students' learning or the lesson at hand. It is a good idea to have the other students occupied with a task if the teacher is going to work with one individual who is struggling more than others. The teacher should not teach exclusively to weak or strong students in the class. Teacher talk time is necessary in every lesson but it should be reduced as much as possible since the student talk time is much more important for their learning and practice of English. Teacher talk time is used to present information, model, clarify give instructions, establish rapport, and providing language input. Reducing teacher talk time can be accomplished by using gestures or visual aids, explaining carefully, and using language that is below the level being taught. Enforcing discipline in the class may be necessary at times. It is important for the teacher to establish control over the classroom before encouraging a more relaxed atmosphere.