Wednesday, January 17, 2018

How to "arrange classroom space to best support learning objectives".


I would like to discuss how to "arrange classroom space to best support learning objectives". Talking about my context student often enter the classroom with multiple fears. In the traditional context, our classrooms are very traditional with the same setting Nothing of interest and support for learning and collaboration for the students. They enter to learn in a boring place. Tasker (2016) is very right to point out the language teachers should arrange their classrooms by placing desks and chairs in different formats in order to encourage interaction.I know we have large classes. Still, students can face each other in lines, make a big circle outside the class, or make small groups of three. 

 I believe that for having a communicative language classroom, only strategies and methods will certainly not suffice. Until or unless the physical features of the classroom are changed from the old and dull monotonous to a more loveable and enjoyable place. I would like to add here the ideas expressed in one of the language teaching methods, "Suggestopedia" that also focuses on the principles of the use of art and music for making students comfortable and confident through changing the physical surrounding and atmosphere in the classroom. This can be applicable through using Whats App and thus we can find a new way of practice outside the classroom and a technique that helps in teaching large classes. 

In some cases, I have brought nice and colorful paintings, charts, pictures etc. Placing comfortable colorful seats,  (the old seats where fixed and painted in different colors), adding music while the students are learning. All these changes produced wonderful results as while sitting in groups with the non-traditional classroom set up students felt happy and comfortable. They interacted with each other in a frank atmosphere.

There may be certain objections to the aforementioned idea as it may require resources and in most of the cases, teacher's can not afford to have such opportunities. In such cases, all available resources can be reached out. Like within the class making students sit in a circular form or in group form and engaging them in different tasks.Sometimes the students may be taken out in the garden or in some other place that may serve the purpose.

So, as the teacher's in resourceless situations we should think of ideas to develop our own resources within the limited means and all teachers are resourceful, creative and active. 

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