Teaching English as a Foreign Language

Chapter 9: Who’s The Boss around Here? Managing Your Classroom 129

Figure 9-2:
Gathering
students
into groups
aids
interaction.

Board

Teacher

Desk for

4 students

Key

Make sure that you’re able to walk around the desks (large desks or groups of

desks) so you can interact freely with students and monitor their work.

In order for students to see the board and you, they can sit sideways on.

Going for traditional rows

The most traditional classroom layout, shown in Figure 9-3, is mainly suitable

for exams and tests.

Students in this kind of layout are less likely to feel relaxed and part of a team.

You’re likely to find classrooms set up like this unless you ask for something

different, but don’t accept the room as you find it. Arrive early to set things up

in the best way for you and your students.