[PeachBlossom]

Hi everyone, I'm new on this site...(still don't know how to create my own message..). Thanks to you all for the good advice on how to teach large classes. I probably need your help too...I have a college class of 30 students in their twenties. I once gave them a game which worked really well with all other classes (The "Olympics" competition to teach comparatives/superlatives), but didn't work at all with them...I gave them board games, with just a little more success...We spend 3 hours together each time (once a week), so I have to find at least 1 activity to help them relax before we get back to the lesson (if possible, with some educational value; otherwise, just seeing them liven up would make my day...). One more thing about this class: the room is very small, so no possibility to do activity where students can stand up and move in the class....Please tell me how I could make it livelier (any games you can think of, that I could give them, without having to ask them to stand up...?). Thanks a lot in advance for your help!! (Just tried this morning -with another class, and in a big room...- the game "There is a.../ there are some...", and making a new country, ...worked really well!!! Thanks a lot!!!)

[teachingenglishmadeeasy]

Quote PeachBlossom

Hi everyone, I'm new on this site...(still don't know how to create my own message..). Thanks to you all for the good advice on how to teach large classes. I probably need your help too...I have a college class of 30 students in their twenties. I once gave them a game which worked really well with all other classes (The "Olympics" competition to teach comparatives/superlatives), but didn't work at all with them...I gave them board games, with just a little more success...We spend 3 hours together each time (once a week), so I have to find at least 1 activity to help them relax before we get back to the lesson (if possible, with some educational value; otherwise, just seeing them liven up would make my day...). One more thing about this class: the room is very small, so no possibility to do activity where students can stand up and move in the class....Please tell me how I could make it livelier (any games you can think of, that I could give them, without having to ask them to stand up...?). Thanks a lot in advance for your help!! (Just tried this morning -with another class, and in a big room...- the game "There is a.../ there are some...", and making a new country, ...worked really well!!! Thanks a lot!!!)

Hi Peach and welcome!

With a class that size, I'd say, if you are aiming for an activity, go outside and incorporate their immediate surroundings with whatever you are teaching them. Change the atmosphere up. Move the desks out of the room one day. If you have them guessing, you will be able to keep their attention. I've done this a few times and it has worked wonders!

Also, perhaps, you could tell us a little more about your objectives. Then, we can really get you going!

Ralph

[PeachBlossom]

Hi Ralph, and thanks for your message!!

Actually I wish I could have done more things, but there are not many alternatives in terms of place and different environment (the students can re-arrange the seats, but it takes a lot of time, and we still don’t have much room). I just tried this week a game that worked well with the class (the class is divided in 3 rows. The students in the first row read a sentence and have to whisper to the next student…and so on, the last student has to shout the sentence correctly), they went wild, you can’t imagine how I felt when I saw them so excited, for the first time!! But I’m just afraid this is a one-time situation.

The college students are generally below standard. This class is supposed to have an Intermediate level, but the topics/the vocabulary they’re supposed to learn are too difficult for them to be able to express themselves fluently. So this is my challenge: adapt the lesson to their level and make it interesting enough not to lose my students, while trying not to oversimplify the notions they’re supposed to study. I often use pictures to illustrate the vocab, but it’s still difficult to get them make full and correct sentences (this could be the subject of another thread…).

I’m aware that they’re not the only ones to blame, my teaching methods certainly need to be changed. I probably tend to stick to the book too much, I haven’t managed to find the right way to make a “serious” topic become more interesting and appealing…

Can I ask you what kinds of activities involve the students guessing and most importantly, how you do that (any practical tips…), because I think it’s like telling a funny story….some people do it very well, while some others…

Thanks again for your answer, Ralph!!
Hope to hear from you soon!!
Peach