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Classroom management involves the manner in which classes are handled to ensure lessons flow smoothly. This means maintaining discipline, keeping disruption from students at a minimum, while still being able to deliver lessons effectively. Although it may seem as if it requires a lot of energy and extroversion, there are actually some low-key methods that are sure to have an impact on the class. These include, but are not limited to establishing rapport, giving individual attention, balancing talk time and giving instructions. Before getting into the establishment of rapport, let’s take a look at eye contact, gestures and voice. Eye contact shows students that they are all involved in the lesson. It helps to check that everyone is participating and hold the attention of the students not being addressed. Gestures are important in getting over the hurdle of language barrier. They assist in eliminating the need for verbal explanation and make the lesson visually appealing to the students. The teacher’s voice helps to monitor the voice of the class, their volume changes with that of the teacher. Clarity, projection, and range can be the deciding factors between a lively or boring lesson. These play a huge part in successfully delivering the lessons, getting students involved and even establishing rapport. Now, let’s get into rapport. In order to establish this, teachers need to have a positive attitude. Students often feed off the energy the teacher is exuding. It is important for the teacher to encourage students to get to know their classmates and speak to each other. After all, they will be learning the language together. Establishing rapport helps to create a relaxed atmosphere for everyone, Icebreaker activities allow students to loosen up, have a laugh and even make friends. It is important to get students to help each other. This can be done in the form of pair or group work. Try to strike a balance with weaker and stronger students. Awareness also plays a part. Teachers need to remain cognizant of the students’ strengths and weaknesses as well as how well they get along with each other. Giving individual attention requires striking a balance. When spending time with students who are having difficulties completing tasks, keep other students occupied with work instead having them wait around idly. While doing this, try not to have other students take over all the attention. Other students will start to notice and it could lead to them feeling left out. Try to build students’ confidence by asking them simple questions when you know difficult ones may get them flustered. If they can’t answer at all, it’s best to let them remain silent as opposed to forcing them and making them feel embarrassed or picked on. Teachers should avoid talking too much in classes. The lessons are as much theirs as it is yours. Balancing teacher talk time and student talk time will make the students feel more involved in the lessons. The teachers act as a model of the natural English which students need to hear and be familiar with. They also need time to use the language by speaking. If the teacher hogs most of the talk time, this reduces the time students will have to talk and practice. To avoid taking over, keep instructions and explanations simple. Instructions need to be simple with visual clues and teachers need to remain consistent in giving these instructions. Use language they understand instead of complex words and phrases. The addition of visual clues helps to emphasize and support the instructions being given. Before diving into the activity, do a proper check to see if they understand what was explained. Students need to be able to understand what is required of them in order to do the activities and have proficiency in the language. Teachers need to be able to make students comfortable, confident, willing to learn and disciplined. Effective classroom management helps to accomplish these and much more. There’s no need to be an extrovert or bounce about to entertain students. Everyone will discover their own teaching styles as they go along. Just try to be flexible and ready to adapt to changing your role based on the class. Most importantly, have fun doing what you are doing. You cannot expect students to enjoy it if you aren’t.
