Teach English in TAngtang Zhen - Qingyuan Shi

Unit 5 offers a practical guideline about how to manage a classroom. It actually describes the different factors involved in creating an interesting, stimulating and effective environment for the students. The first part is focused on the best use of teacher?s voice and gestures. They should deliver the right message at the right moment, supporting the students? understanding and the teacher?s goals for that specific lesson. The second part presents different ways to group the students, listing pros and cons. The choice is mostly up to the teacher?s character, kind of activities as well as the pursued results for a certain class. The third part deals with the possible classroom arrangements which a teacher might create before o during the lessons. They enhance different elements (discipline, workgroup skills, TTT, eye contact, etc.). A good balance of them is fundamental to support each activity, but the ages of students, their characters, their nationalities as well as space and time available must be for sure taken into account. Then, the unit explains the delicate balance between TTT (teacher talk time) and STT (student talk time). A commonly important goal is to reduce TTT at a minimum to maximise students? participation and involvement (once the TTT is enough for a good understanding). Finally, a specific space is dedicated to offer some instructions to deal with behavioural problems - both how to avoid them at first, both how to manage once they have arisen: presenting universal fair rules, maintaining the teacher?s authority, involving the students and addressing their difficulties are powerful strategies to deliver effective and ruled lessons.