Organisations Diploma TEFL

Classroom Management The most brilliant and caring of teachers may get run over, quite literally, by a room of undisciplined, unmotivated students if she does not have good classroom management skills. Classroom management skills take time and experience to acquire, the help and support of other teachers, and self-confidence. Discipline, structure, and building relationships are the building blocks to a well-managed classroom. And of course, an English as a Foreign Language (EFL) teacher has all these challenges plus others exclusive to EFL students. While the challenges of classroom management are different for adult versus young learners, an EFL teacher may have to cross cultural barriers and show sensitivity to her students? cultural and ethnic needs regardless of the ages of her students. Classroom structure is the foundation of a well-managed class. For example, for young and adult learners structure provides a sense of predictability and comfort. Also, having a structured class builds trust and respect for the teacher. One simple, yet effective way to begin a class is with two questions written on the board. students know that everyday they are required to enter the room, and write down both the question and the answer. This brings students to the classroom on time (important for both young and adult learners), and requires that they sit quietly in their seats. Now the teacher can begin the lessons with a room full of quiet students ready to learn! Discipline, obviously an issue for young learners rather than adult learners, is one of the biggest challenges facing many (especially new) teachers. A teacher must have a set of rules and consequences for breaking the rules. This requires consistency and fairness from the teacher towards all students. students want a quiet, safe, fun environment to learn; however they may not provide any assistance in helping the teacher create that environment until they realize the teacher is serious about discipline. A structured, consistent, and fair set of rules establishes respect for the teacher, and therefore a respect for the material being presented. Other than punishment to enforce rules, praise for good behavior works miracles for young learners. For example, if a bright colored sticker is put on the papers of the students working quietly (or doing the assignment they have been given rather than misbehaving) suddenly all the students become very curious as to why only the well behaved, on task students received a sticker and naturally they too will behave well in an order to receive a sticker. A positive award sticker, of course is worth bonus points! A teacher must have the support of administration for any rules she sets in the classroom, and support for the punishment as well. This is the responsibility of the teacher to learn of the support and resources available to her for establishing consequences to poor behavior. Building relationships with each individual student in a fair and sincere way helps classroom management as well. Getting to know students on a personal level will motivate both young and adult learners to learn the material and create a positive learning environment. It is easy to show a general care for students and get to know them. For example, it is as simple as asking them more details about a vacation they took or a project they worked on. Showing a general curiosity about their lives will establish trust and friendship and in turn the students will be more comfortable practicing a foreign language and learning new material. Structure, discipline, and building relationships are fundamentals for all classroom management regardless of the subject being taught. EFL teachers have challenges unique to them. If they are teaching in an English speaking country they may have students from all different cultural backgrounds. The teacher must show sensitivity to these students? different ethnic and cultural backgrounds. This can be done by learning about the cultures of their home countries and showing a general care to the students. It is not only the teacher?s knowledge or ability to share and present knowledge in an interesting way that makes an EFL class a success: managing the classroom may have an even greater importance! After all, a well-managed class does fun activities and has a positive learning environment!