Teach English in DongdatAn XiAng - Wuwei Shi

This unit talks about Classroom Management, which is the skill of organizing and managing the class, having a friendly, relaxed manner and maintaining discipline. There are a number of things that can be used to help in Classroom Management, so of which include; Eye contact; it can be used in a number of ways some of which are; -To hold attention. -To show when something is correct. -To encourage. The Voice; -Use language at the level you are teaching -Speak slowly and clearly. Gestures; -To reduce the teacher talk time. -To convey meaning. -To add visual interest. There are three ways of Grouping students which will be explained below with their Pros and Cons. Whole class grouping (pros and cons); -Gives a sense of belonging. -Allows for whole group interaction. -Can reduce student talk time. -Can be ?off putting? for shy students. Individuals (pros and cons); -Allows the teacher to respond to individuals. -Allows the students to become more self reliant. -Little chance of student to student interactions. -Creates more pressure for students to produce their answers. Pair work (pros and cons); -Increase the opportunity for students talk time. -Safer environment -Students may not get on with their partner. Using the students names. There are a number of benefits for using the students names in the classroom some of which are; -To help organize the class. -To acknowledge the students. -To indicate who to respond. Classroom Arrangement; this depends on the following factors; -Age of the students. -Physical space available. -What material is available that is actual desk and chairs. -Student personality. We have to think of a number of questions to ask as far as classroom arrangement is concerned they are; -How will it affect thew classroom atmosphere? -Is it conducive to classroom control? -Will it allow the maximum student talk time?. There are three main types of classroom arrangements, below are the types, their advantages and disadvantages. Orderly Rows (pros and cons). -Allows the teacher to move freely. -Students have a clear view of the teacher. -Difficult to arrange for whole class activities. -Very formal feel. Circles and Horseshoes (pros and cons). -Teacher appears less dominant. -Very easy to set up pairwork. -Position of the teacher becomes very important. Separate Tables (pros and cons). -Easy to give individual attention. -Good for lecture. -Difficult to maintain eye contact. -Difficult for student to student interaction. There are other classroom management issues we need to consider and they may include; Writing on the board; Unfortunately, there is no way you can avoid turning your back to the students during board-work. There are however a number of ways to reduce the amount of time you spend with your back to the class, they include; -Use an overhead projector if possible. -Prepare cards with vocabulary. -Invite the students to write on the board for you. -Write on the board whilst students are engaged on a different task. Giving individual attention. - Don?t ask questions in a predictable order. - Don?t allow individuals to dominate. - Use students names when asking questions. Teachers Talking Time. Advantage- you are usually the only real model for the correct use of the language. Disadvantage- Teacher Talk Time reduce the opportunity for student talk time. How to reduce Teacher Talk Time; -Use mime, gestures and pictures. -Use language at their level. -Avoid jargon and elaboration. Giving Instructions; There are some of the ideas used while giving instructions, some of which are; -Use simple language. -Do a visual demonstration of the activity. -Use common terms as often as possible such as look, listen. -Check understanding by asking the students what they are going to do. Rapport; Here we will look at how we will do and maintain rapport, we are going to group the ways into two stages, that is ?at the start of the course? and ?throughout the course?. At the start of the course; -Make a name card which everyone can see. -Do some ice-breaking activities that allows the students to interact and give information. Throughout the course; -Use pairwork as often as possible. -Don?t allow single students to dominate. -Allow students to correct each other. -Personalize activities with their names. Discipline in the classroom; Major things you should consider for maintaining discipline in the classroom include; -You should always be seen to be fair. -You should be punctual. -You should be well prepared. -Don?t make threats without carrying them out. -Show your students respect. Responding to problem behavior; If you have done everything possible to prevent problem behavior, but it still occurs, the following are things you can do.; -Always act immediately before the problem can get worst. -Use non verbal techniques first. -Keep calm, never shout. -Keep within the school discipline code. -Try to use hunour where possible. Conclusively, what I have personally learnt from this unit are the different ways in which eye contact, gesture and voice can be used by the teacher in the classroom. The different types of student groupings, their advantages and disadvantages. How discipline can be maintained in the classroom.