Seating Arrangements in Language Classrooms

www.eltpocast.com We have all probably seen large classrooms that are two-thirds full, with the front third of the seats empty. Or, when the number of seats is about the same as the number of students, you might have seen students rush in to grab the seats at the back, then watch as the classroom fills up back to front. However, when the students are closer to the teacher, it is easier to watch their faces for feedback. Also, teachers do not have to strain their voices to reach the back of the large room. Classrooms with students bunched up at the back indicate that either the students do not care or the teacher does not care. Since learning a language is an emotional thing, students have to be more engaged by being up close. A large physical distance is also a psychological distance; when there is a spatial gap between the teacher and the students, it is difficult to bridge that gap to reach the students. Listen to this episode and / or view our online summary (www.eltpodcast.com/archive/lounge) to see how we address these problems. The solutions we discuss should help you in your own teaching situation.