[teachingenglishmadeeasy]

Hi guys,

I have a few large speaking classes. You wouldn't believe it, but, I have 22 students and only 50 minutes once a week. How do you get the students to be able to actively participate in class? What I mean is, how do you get the students, so many of them, to actually practice speaking with such a little amount of time?

I tend to put them into groups and have them do group work. I also have them use different templates that I usually create. Then, I try to have someone from the group, each group, stand up and present what they have.

Do you guys have any good recommendations?

[jellybeanenglisch]

putting them into groups and monitoring (i.e. walk around and make sure they actually speak English!) is good. Don´t let them get into the same groups every time.
1.Try debates. Give them a subject with one group preparing PRO arguments and the other CON. Ideas on how to do it and what topics to use can be found at ESL Conversation Topics — Debate
The more controvoversial/outrageous the subject, the more fun the debates!
2. Party Games like Taboo or Apples to Apples are great for conversation classes
3. On the net, there are various ideas for ESL printable board games (mainly to teach grammar but as long as they´re talking...). Print enough copies so that groups of 2-3 students can play. Make sure you have enough pawns and dice.
Good luck!

[English-coach]

Someone asked me the same question on my website...but they have 40 people in their class. I can't imagine teaching that many students at the same time. The max I have ever done is 13. (...and I thought that was too much...Guess it could have been worse).

Here is the question and my suggestions. Hope it helps ya in some way.

How to teach a large class

[kisito]

Yes, I used to have classes of 60 students for many years. The classroom management technique is key. Well in my case, the rolls and columns are always teams that work together in most activities. Teams usually compete against each other. So in a class of 60, that's about 6 columns. Draw grids on the board that represent them. Give and deduct points according to performance. Also apply a bit of peer pressure when one member of the team is costing the others points. Always maker sure that one group doesn't lose a game by a large margin and challenge the losers to win the next time. Always worked for me- competition. Always do not forget the students at the back. Also catch people off guard and ask them questions. Call names at random, it keeps all alert. Correct homework by asking columns to swap books or papers and then write your answers on the board. It helps because they spot mistakes of others and learn double. Also if wrongly corrected, students will complain and it all shows they are learning. I could go on.

[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

[mesmark]

I teach 45 students for 90 minutes and it's a conversation based lesson.

I do a lot of pair work. I make the activities very simple, as I have mixed levels. However, I create a lot of room for expansion on dialogues and role-plays. So, more advanced or more adventurous students can do more with an activity should they choose.

I also have random pairs present in front of the class after they practice. That puts a bit of pressure on them to practice.

With larger classes, it's always important to simplify activities as best you can. Once the students are working and getting on with the activity, then you can add to it.

[alawton]

Hello,

I've had classes like that before. I've found that splitting the class into fours with mixed levels in each group works the best. Those higher functioning students really do help the others when you are not attending to their group. I like to have students create role plays with the target vocabulary to present to the class. While each group os reading the others in class answer questions, that I come up with, on the role play being read. I hope this helps!

Andrew Lawton

[Pix]

For primary students try these games (disguised language drills)

They have the benefit of including many students at once with minimum time waiting for a turn. They are designed to allow for frequent repetition of vocabulary or a sentence containing a grammatical structure that you would like to practise.

Relay Race ESL Game
Simple and easy to implement.

and

Kidnap Free ESL Game
More complicated in the full form but it can be done in two stages over different lessons. It's a hit with students.

Enjoy!
Shelley