The only problem is that I will not be able to move around the classroom and will have to teach these courses from behind the teacher’s desk. Our classrooms are not nearly big enough to accommodate enormous bellies moving around among seated students.
I have no idea how to teach language courses while sitting down. Normally, students do group activities while I walk among them and participate. What do I do if I can’t walk around? Sit behind the desk staring at the students mysteriously? Pretend to be busily searching something on the computer? Does anybody have experience of teaching while sitting down in courses where everything is based on group work or work in pairs?
I know some people do amazing work with teacher-centered language learning but I’m not one of those people, and this old dog is way too ancient to learn a bunch of completely new tricks between today and tomorrow. I just want something I can do while students engage in their activities and I just sit there like a monument to myself.
Clarissa's Blog 
Well I am in a different field but I tend to do quick group acitvities–like I break them up for maybe 15 minutes or so –and then I actually avoid interfering too much because I want them to “hash things” out themselves. Then we come back as whole class and discuss the issues. So I frequently will busy myself on the computer or perhaps review my notes during this time. But I understand how it’s a problem if they work in pairs or groups for longer than 15 minutes. Are there some more “whole class” activities you can incoporate? Perhaps begin class with some type of student presentation? Like every day, a student begins class by locating and inroudcing the class to a popular song in Spanish? Or maybe watch a news segment in Spanish and then discuss as a class? I have no idea what I’m talking about here since I don’t teach a foreign language. But in my own teaching, I have noticed that music, the visual arts, or a quick video clip is really effective for getting the entire class to talk. Good luck! 🙂
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The problem is that these are very populated sections. The smallest has 23 people and the goal is to engage all of them. Music is a great idea, and so are videos. I will have to do some searches. Thank you!
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I have lead discussions where just about every one was engaged in classes of 30 (there usually is one or two students in a class that size that are perpetually bored no matter what I do!) Bigger than 30, it gets hard. And the times that I have been most successful have indeed been with music and/or some type of interesting video.
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The choice is not sit down behind desk vs. walk around to monitor small group activities. That is a false dichotomy imposed by the latest alleged experts, who have no idea of the actual range of things one can do.
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But what is the alternative, though?
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Just quickly, get rid of desk and don’t sit down, walk around but just don’t try to go through the rows. Have groups get up and give presentations…
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“Just quickly, get rid of desk and don’t sit down, walk around but just don’t try to go through the rows.”
– I will definitely have to do that because I will physically not be capable of sitting through class. It feels completely unnatural.
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I don’t think I’ve ever sat through class except around a table with a really small group.
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Me neither. I never even know if there is a chair behind the teacher’s desk because I don’t have time to notice. Even when they write exams I stand behind a computer. Computers are placed so that you have to stand to see them for some reason.
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Can you rearrange the seating, say into a square or circle? If not…why not have the students up and moving around past you? If that won’t work, perhaps you eschew the desk all together and just sit in the middle of the classroom? Maybe none of these will work, just brainstorming here.
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Placing myself in the middle is also a brilliant idea. I’m really glad I asked for advice here because it’s hard to break out of a very familiar pattern and all these suggestions are really helping!!
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What if you called one group at a time up to your desk? You can check on their progress and help them if they’re stuck and ask them some questions. I bet if you explain your problem to them (emphasizing that it is *not* meant to be a quiz or putting them on the spot), they’ll be pretty understanding.
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“What if you called one group at a time up to your desk? You can check on their progress and help them if they’re stuck and ask them some questions. ”
– This is a brilliant suggestion, I love it! Why didn’t I think of this before? It will also give students a chance to get up and move around which is always a great thing.
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About the FEMEN (in French):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cFdbPUDZwb4
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