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In this unit I learned about common problems faced in the classroom, and how to handle them.
In a first lesson with students it is important to establish rapport. It is best to do activities that allow you to learn about the students' backgrounds, their interests, and also their current language level. The class you teach may be an existing group of students who are familiar with each other and have relationships, or they might be a new group, in which case it is important to also establish rapport between the students.
'Warmers' are ways to break the ice with the class and get them motivated to learn English. Memory games, Pictionary, and tongue twisters are all good ways of warming up the classroom for learning.
When student's English levels are mixed, there are several methods you can try to tackle the problem. One is to use different materials, another is to use the same materials but give different tasks. You can also pair stronger and weaker students together. Some teachers also choose not to do anything, although the danger is sometimes the weaker students find it too difficult and the stronger ones are bored.
Large classes can be difficult to handle, but given the right learning activities, manageable. It is recommended to use worksheets, group and pair work, assigning group leaders, and choral repetition when teaching (among other recommended activities).
In monolingual classes, you don't need to ban the speaking of their native tongue, but you should encourage the use of English and only respond to and with English. If students find the need to consistently use their mother tongue, it could be an indication that your instructions are not clear enough, or that the level of the task is unsuitable.
Reluctant students can be encouraged to participate through group work, role play, or controlled practice. This takes some of the pressure off their shoulders, especially those with confidence or anxiety issues.
Cassettes are identified as a problem for teachers--I think they are less and less common today in teaching. I think podcasts and CDs are more common as listening tools. In any case, it is important that the listening material is clear and loud enough. Other problems can include students who complete tasks at different paces. In this case, its best to move on with the majority of the class. Those who finish early can be kept occupied with word search or other worksheet activities.
