130 Part II: Putting Your Lesson Together
Figure 9-3:
Traditional
rows don’t
generally
promote
active
engage-
ment.
Key
Teacher
Board
Desk
Establishing Classroom Rules
Many language schools have rules for students set out in their terms and
conditions, which takes some of the pressure off you because students read
and agree to them before entering the classroom. However, as teachers and
classmates vary it’s a good idea to establish rules at the beginning of the
course that reflect the situation of the class. The students can get involved in
agreeing some of the rules.
Some common classroom rules are:
✓ Latecomers must not disrupt the class. In some cases you can set a time
limit after which the student may not enter the room. In any case, stu-
dents should display good manners instead of barging in.
✓ Students should bring their own materials (books, pens, paper to
write on).
✓ Students should avoid behaviour that’s offensive to their classmates
and to their teacher. This includes swearing (in English or their mother
tongue), styles of dress (highly inappropriate compared with the local
culture) and body odour.
