By Susan Renaud, Elizabeth Tannenbaum, and Philip Stantial

Student-Centered Teaching in Large Classes with Limited Resources

Setting

• Haiti• Public Secondary School• 78 Students• Small classroom with poor light

conditions and ventilation. There is no electricity.

• The students have no textbooks.• A blackboard and chalk as main

resources

A large class • According to these authors, the

average perception of a large class is around 50 students to 80 students.

• This article discusses some useful techniques reported by teachers who have managed to teach successfully on classes with similar characteristics to the ones shown previously.

Advantages of large classes

• Enough students for interaction• In heterogeneous classes, more

proficient students may help others.

• Students must develop strategies to help themselves and their classmates

• Foster an atmosphere of collaboration

Chanllenges/Issues of large classes

The major challenges are:• Managing the classroom,• Using Pair and group work to

encourage cooperative learning• Teaching with limited resources• Motivating students in

heterogenous classes.

Managing the classroom

• Discipline problems: regarding this issue, the article shows the following techniques:

*Set classroom rules*Plan varied activities that appeal to different learning stylesstudents*Have advanced students help others

Using pair work to encourage cooperative learning

• Have students work in pairs• Give students clear instructions• Rotate group members on each activity.• Establish routines• Set goals

Teaching with Limited Resources

• Use dictation instead of copies• Have the students bring objects from their houses touse them as Realia.Use pictures from magazines

Motivating students in heterogenous classes.

• Talk about the importance of English• Adapt materials according totheir level, interests, etc.• Tell the students the goal of each activity they do.• Develop sequential avtivities• Make activities success-Oriented.

ConclusionAll teachers want to teach in well equipped

classrooms with maximum 20students. This article tries to encourage teachers to find other ways rather than lecturingwhen teaching a language tolarge groups in an succesful way.

Source

Student-Centered Teaching In Large Classes. Forum MagazineVolume 45 Number 3 (2007)