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UNIT 2: VARIABLES TO TAKE INTO ACCOUN IN THE ORGANIZATION OF THE…
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4.1. ‐ Space Distribution.
The physical organization of the class is an important aspect to take into account in the
English class, especially when following a Communicative Approach. As students play
an active role and they are energetic and active as part of their developmental process,
they need to move around the class, needing plenty of space to feel comfortable. The
teacher also needs to move around the class so that they can check the students´ work
and maintain control. For that reason we can use different arrangements, among are:
TRADITIONAL ARRANGEMENT
in which the students are placed in rows facing
the teacher (up‐front teaching) and the teacher is at the front of the class. It is
used in methodologies where students have a passive role and the teacher has
an active one, controlling the class. It doesn’t foster communication but it´s
useful for certain activities which require individual work: exams or tests,
written exercises, compositions, silent reading… even at the beginning and end
of the lesson. (Grammar Translation Method).
CIRCLE AND THE TEACHER OUT:
It fosters communication because the pupils
can see each other, as everybody is facing one another. The teacher is out so
the pupils feel more comfortable. This type of arrangement is suitable for
debates, discussions, games, etc. (Communicative Approach. TPR, Silent Way).
CIRCLE AND THE TEACHER INSIDE:
It is appropriate for communicative
activities and the role of the teacher is to provide help when necessary. They
can guide and direct the students better than when they are out, but the
students can sometimes feel intimated.
HORSE SHOE, SEMICIRCLE OR U SHAPE ARRANGEMENT
in which the students
are placed in a semicircle and the teacher is in the middle. It favors dialogue
and the teacher acts as moderator. It can be used for every type of activities.
GROUPS OR BOARDING MEETINGS:
Within this arrangement the desks are
placed together and the pupils sit around in groups of five or six. It is required
in activities involving the use of a lot of materials such as reports or project
works.
MIX AND MINGLE
used for oral games (i.e. “find someone who…”) where
students have to move around the classroom as they put their desks wherever
they want. They are in different positions but facing the teacher.
LEARNING STATIONS OR LEARNING CENTERS
where students use instructional
material to explore, alone or in working teams. A learning center or station is a
space set in the classroom that allows easy access to a variety of learning
materials in an interesting and productive way. It´s appropriate for engaging
independent and self‐directed learning activities. This type of management
provides a less intimidating environment for the students and gives the teacher