Resource centre - Ideas and techniques - Large classes
What can we do to bring a rowdy class of children back into line? Shelley Vernon shares some essential tips for controlling a large class...
Teaching English with games is becoming standard through out ESL classrooms of
the world. And this is good news, because children love to learn through games,
and become much more motivated students as a result. However games often make
children excited, and if you have a large class you need a few things up your
sleeve to bring the class into line immediately if things get a little
over-heated.
Here are some tips and ideas to help you contain your pupils' enthusiasm and
manage your large class. There are three sections. Essential basics, useful
tips, and attention grabbers.
1. Some essential basics to manage a large class
Together with your pupils define the rules in the first lesson, and post them on
the classroom wall for reference. Knowing WHY a rule is in place makes it easier
to keep. You must establish the rules on day one and stick to them!
Be consistent in applying your rules. If you are arbitrary about how you dish
out your rewards or 'consequences', or punishments you will undermine the rules
themselves.
Praise good behavior to generate love and self-esteem. Whatever you do, avoid
being like so many parents who spend their whole time telling their children,
"don't do this", and "don't do that". By focusing on the positive in order to
draw more attention to it you apply the universal law of "you attract what you
focus on".
If you are working in a school know the law and rules of your institution before
you go into the classroom for the first time, and work in harmony with the
school.
Start out strict and fair - and stay that way! Being strict is not about looking
stern and being bossy. It is about making sure the rules are kept, in a firm but
fair way. You can still be a really fun, loving teacher and be strict with your
class at the same time.
2. Useful Tips
Don't break your own rules by raising your voice to be heard. Instead talk
quietly or stop and wait. Your class should know that for every minute you are
kept waiting they will receive extra English homework, or whatever consequence
you have designated.
Children love the sound of their own name more than anything else. So use an
individual's name for praise and avoid using it when telling someone off.
Create teams and deduct or reward behavior points to a team's score during a
game. Your class will respond naturally by using peer pressure to keep the
naughty children from misbehaving.
Empower your children with choices. For example, ask a naughty child, "Do you
want me to speak to your Dad?" By asking a question you give the child the power
to choose, whereas if you use a threat such as, "I'll call your Dad if you don't
behave", you take the initiative away and seem tyrannical.
You can also say things like, "you can either play the game properly or you can
sit in the corner". The child will probably choose to play the game properly,
and you make them responsible for their behaviour.
Prevention is better than cure, so try giving boisterous children an important
task BEFORE they start to play up. They may respond well to the responsibility.
It is important, especially with a large class, to hand things out quickly or
use a system to have this done, such as giving the well-behaved children the
task as a reward. Sing a song together or do some counting or a quick game to
occupy the class while materials are handed out.
Play a mystery game and, before you start your fun game say that during the
activity you will be watching the whole class for 3 well-behaved children who
will be rewarded.
Only play games where you know you can keep a handle on the situation. For
example there is no point playing a boisterous game with a lot of movement if
you have more than around 20 children. With large classes, including classes of
up to 60 children, you need special games where the children have limited
movement - such as standing up or making gestures but while remaining in their
seats. You can sign up to receive free games in the resource box below, and some
of the free games given out are suitable for very large classes.
3. Attention grabbers
Start an English song the children know and love – they will all join in with
you and at the end you’ll have their attention.
Clap out a pattern which the class must clap back, or start a rhyme they know
with actions.
Use quiet cues such as heads down or lights off. Vary these with other fun quiet
cues such as "Give me five".1--on your bottom, legs crossed; 2--hands folded in
your lap; 3--face the speaker; 4--eyes and ears open; 5--mouths closed.
You teach this repeatedly in the first lessons and after a few weeks, you only
have to say "Give me five:1,2,3,4,5", and the children will do it.
You can also use the Magic 1 2 3 idea. When a child does not comply start
counting 1, 2,… The child knows that if you get to 3 there will be some sort of
consequence, such as missing out on the next game. If you use this and you reach
3, you must follow through with an appropriate consequence consistently.
To summarise, establish the rules and consequences for good and bad behavior,
apply them consistently, set a good example, use peer pressure and points, and
use attention grabbing cues such as favorite songs, English rhymes with actions
and countdowns. Above all play suitable games where you know you can keep in
control of your class.
You can be firm and fun at the same time, and if you cannot manage your class,
you should realize that, although it sounds harsh to say it, you are wasting
their time.
Giving instructions
ESL resources
Downloadable classroom activities
What do you think of this article? Add a comment »
Always useful. I am
teaching in China and have been confronted with classes of 110! A situation
which I don't recommend, if you can avoid it, though! Good tips such as these
can be very helpful. Thank you.
It was really refreshing to
read this article and know from experience that the methods work. I have been an
esl teacher to children for 10 years. Now when I meet ex students I am greeted
enthusiastically with warmth and respect. Many of my students, come to lessons
because they enjoy them, the fact they are learning english is secondary. I love
my job.
Shelley: Thanks a lot for
your tips I really appreciate them and I am quite sure these will work in my
classes.
The article isn't giving me
any new information that I haven't heard before. Probably one or two things
stuck on me, and I'm probably gonna try. My class isn't a large one, but I have
suggested information based on this article to other teachers at my school who
face this managerial concern. Overall, I thought the article was helpful and as
always continue to look for new ways and means by which education, learning and
all that goes with those, can be made easier and fun.
It's funny that 1,2,3 Magic
is mentioned in this article. At the moment I'm reading the version for teachers
(there's one for parents as well). Although the method is geared toward primary
teachers, most of the techniques mentioned can be applied to EFL and ESL
classes. I'm finding it very helpful. I decided to take advantage of the
Christmas break to come back fresh and new with an updated classroom management
system. The kids are responding very well.
Great article, I have one
group that is 34 students and there are days that I wonder how much they are
learning. I will try out these hints as soon as tomorrow. Thanks.
I have another problem - my
class in not only big (24 people is maybe not a very large class for some, but
they are so noisy) - have you seen this film with Michelle Pfiffer? My students
are 16-19 years old, almost all with some serious behaviour problems -
elementary level, broken-patological families, poor environment, with no
motivation to learn. I give my e-mail, coz if anybody has ever have such types
of problems and has found a solution or at least some methods to work with such
teenagers, i would be very grateful for any resonable, tested already
suggestions - coz I am desperate (but still optimistic - I am afraid in fact of
a teacher burn-out) :(
Thanks for the ideas and
tips. They are really useful. All of them work out! Trust me. After teaching 15
years I can tell you it's good to read once again what we've learned before and
sometimes we forget so easily because of the routine. Nowadays it turns into a
challenge to all teachers when we have to face a large group with different
levels and interests. But I'm sure it's not impossible for us to make the
difference in our classes if we prepare ourselves properly.
What a good idea to keep
small children behaving when studying. I like your suggestions a lot.
The article is interesting
and I definitely agree with all these ideas and tips on how to handle large
classes. I have tried some of the tips mentioned with my secondary students and
even with university students, but I would like some more advice on activities
for conversation classes with university students. I have a 50 minute class once
a week with groups of 17 to 20 students each. I am very interested in helping
them with their fluency and accuracy. Any ideas?
Thank you for the tips, I
am a first time ESL teacher in South Korea at a middle school, and I'm 22! The
students have realised that I am young, and many of them seem to think that I
will not enforce discipline, added to this it is easy to feel intimidated, I
have started using the tips given and am starting to see results! Thank you.
I'm 18 and I have just
given my first english lesson to 5 small children in Spain, 4 well behaved 1
badly behaved nightmare (for me anyway) I wish I had read this before because
even though I did try to keep it fun but firm it was really difficult, thank you
for the information I will definitely use it in my next class (hopefully it
won´t be to late). Thank you so much for this information!
How true, especially that
last sentence, both for large and small classes! This is my first time here but
this site is a genuine find. Keep up the good work!
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