Introduction

1 Which of the models below best describes your teaching?

• • teacher speaking at the front of the class

• • students working in groups with the teacher monitoring

• • a combination of these two models

2 Would you describe your teaching as student-focused? What are the advantages and disadvantages of the students being more active in your classroom?

What are the challenges in making your teaching student-focused?

In challenging circumstances, a ‘▸listen and sit’ or ‘▸chalk and talk’ methodology is often used in the classroom. That is, the teacher monopolizes the classroom interactions by lecturing the class and using the board as the main teaching aid. The students sit and listen silently except when being called on to answer questions or to repeat in chorus. Not only were teachers often taught in this way themselves, they may also have been trained like this. As such, it feels natural and appropriate. Furthermore, students are also familiar with this approach, and it is often expected by parents as well as by management, who see it as the ‘normal’ and ‘correct’ way of teaching.

Many teachers, especially those who lack experience or confidence, feel more secure when they can control what is happening, and when they have the ‘safety’ of the textbook in their hands. They may worry that allowing students to work together, or giving them more responsibility, could result in chaos. These feelings are likely to be even stronger if they have large class sizes, or if they face classroom management issues.