Category: English Teaching

Managing the First Meeting of a Large English Class: A Practice

The first meeting of a large class is always challenging. The number of students I am talking was 54 students. For lecturers, it is always good to arrive at the class room early to check materials  and some power point presentations (if any) as planned.  Then, usually, after giving the whole idea of what students will be doing during the term, you can give them opportunities to ask for clarification, confirmation, and so on. This will encourage them to speak up, make them confident, and give each others’ (lecturer and student) trust that everyone will learn and work together. However, at the very first meeting for a large class, students may stay sitting comfortably at their chairs, and say nothing. Class becomes quiet and less lively. Thus, it is good to make use of this “bonus” to keep the classroom as the language classroom should be. To make the first meeting memorable, I give students speaking practice. As I observed that new students at campus won’t know all friends yet, this could be the material for the first speaking practice. The following pictures illustrate the activities.

The first time individual work for knowing each other. They interviewed some friends (10 friends). It may seem crowded, but this has made them move, become active, no room for being asleep, and surely everyone had the same opportunities to practice.
The first time individual work for knowing each other. They interviewed some friends (10 friends). It may seem crowded, but this has made them move, become active, no room for being asleep, and surely everyone had the same opportunities to practice.

Some students will be probably a bit reluctant to move in the very first time. The lecturer can come to them, monitor, and ask them to again get along with other new friends.

To ensure they did this interview, ask the students to write down whom they interviewed and some important information to be later reported in front of the class.
To ensure they did this interview, ask the students to write down whom they interviewed and some important information to be later reported in front of the class.
Speaking Practice at the first meeting? It surely is possible. Look at their happy faces.
Speaking Practice at the first meeting? It surely is possible. Look at their happy faces.
Always check how they were going through this individual work and listen to them. They may find difficulties and you can help.
Always check how they were going through this individual work and listen to them. They may find difficulties and you can help.

Then, randomly select some students to present their interview report, and ask them to share their feeling having this exercise, too. Give some examples of giving report (common expressions or terms in delivering a report). After presentation, give some feedback if necessary. Surprisingly, they did like it. This fun technique may work for you also for the first meeting for English language subject especially for such a large class.

It is wonderful to see how fun it was to learn English at college. Look at their faces. They practiced to make question, to answer, to make mistake, and to correct. Learning language should be fun.

Happy trying. 🙂