Chapter 5
What is Classroom Management?
Classroom management refers to the way teachers organize what goes on in the classroom. The
goal of classroom management is to create a classroom atmosphere conducive to interacting in
English in meaningful ways so that students can make progress in learning English.
How can EFL and ESL Teachers Use Knowledge of Classroom Management to create opportunities
for Students to interact in English in Meaningful Ways?
1. Teacher Talk
2. The Teacher's Questions
3. Setting Up Classroom Activities
4. Giving Instructions
5. Keeping Students on Task
6. Making Language Comprehensible to Students.
Teacher Talk?
When it comes down to it, it is not how much time we spend talking but rather the way we use talk to
promote meaningful interaction that is significant.
The Teacher's Questions
What is the purpose of the teacher's questions?
- Display Question: A question in which the teacher already knows the answer and wants the
student to display.
- Referential Question: A question in which the teacher does not know the answer.
- Comprehension Check: A question to find out if a student understands.
- Confirmation Question: A question to verify what was said.
- Clarification Check: A question to further define or clarify.
What are the content areas of teacher's questions?
1. Study of Language: Questions that ask students about aspects of language.
2. Study of Subjects: Questions that ask students about content other than the study of language.
3. Procedure: Questions that ask students about procedural matters.
4. Life-General: Questions about the lives of groups of people.
5. Life-Personal: Questions about the lives of individuals.
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Why is 'wait time' important after asking students a question?
1. The average length of students responses might increase.
2. Students could ask more questions.
3. Students may react to each other's comments.
4. The number of correct responses could go up.
5. Students might make more inferences.
Setting Up Classroom Activities
What are seating arrangements that teachers use to seat students in class?
1. Traditional
2. Semi-circle
3. Face-to-face
4. Back-to-back
5. Pairs side-by-side
6. Equal small groups.
How can teachers group their students in class?
1. By ability and experience.
2. By personality factors.
3. By characteristics.
4. By lottery.
5. By location.
Giving Instructions?
The way we give instructions is another aspect of managing a classroom.
Some ways to give instructions include:
1. Writing down instructions.
2. Giving instructions verbally and role-playing them.
3. Having a student read the instructions; then having a student or two paraphrase them to the
class.
Keeping Students on Task?
Some teachers believe that keeping students on task is an important part of providing students with
opportunities for meaningful interaction.
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Some suggestions for keeping students on task?
1. Give clear instructions. Make sure the students know what the goal of the task is.
2. Have students work on tasks that interest them.
Making Language Comprehensible to Students.
What are the ways to make language comprehensible to students?
1. Simplicity in speech.
2. Add mediums.
3. Negotiate meaning.
We can add media, including those that are?
1. Linguistic aural (Speech)
2. Linguistic visual (Print)
3. Nonlinguistic visual (Pictures, objects, realia)
4. Nonlinguistic aural (Bird chirps)
5. Paralinguistic (Eye contact)
What Problems Do Some EFL/ESL Teachers Have in Managing Classroom Interaction?
1. The 'I never have enough time!' problem
2. The 'How do I get students to use English in class?' problem
3. The 'name remembering' problem
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