What challenges do you encounter when you teach English in large classrooms?

Question

How can you keep everyone's attention?

Answer 1

I don't think it's possible to keep everyone's attention.
There are some students who have no interest in learning English.

I remember an old saying 'you can't teach pigs to sing', and it is pointless trying.
If confronted with a class where there are some who do not want to learn, the best you can hope for is that they remain silent, and do not interfere with the others.
It is best to identify them, and not involve them in any activities, because they are likely to become a disruptive influence.
I teach in China, with classes of 60+.
The challenge is to teach oral English to 60+ students in a 40 minute period.
So if you can eliminate some disinterested ones, then you have more time for the interested ones, and might be able to give a whole minute of personal attention to each student each week!
I try to teach something different, in a different way, each week.
If I am moving round the classroom, and dealing with one student at a time, then I encourage the rest to do homework until I get to them.
If I am working with groups of four or six, then I give them something to prepare, and ask the first group to finish the preparation to demonstrate their work first, while the others continue to prepare.
If I am having them parrot something after me, Chinese style, then I note the ones who are not speaking, and remember to ignore them in the same way that they are ignoring me.

Answer 2

You start out by reading a good poem to the class - something they'd listen to. That's what my teacher does in creative writing class, and sometimes even in English.

Then, try to make the topic interesting, even if it's not. Even if you're just talking about an essay they have to write, talk like you're teaching them how to write a great science fiction story or something. Just make it exciting. And smile.
Hah, it's weird, why am I telling you how to teach. Before you become a teacher, don't you have to go somewhere and watch how teachers teach? It's like, Hey, I've been watching teachers teach my whole life. I went to school! I know how to teach.
Anyway. Don't listen to me, I'm just a sucker for teaching. Cause I want to be a teacher.
Well, good luck.

Answer 3

When none of the students have done the reading assignment ,and the teacher asks a question about the reading, and everyone is dead quiet. Starting up a discussion about the readings when nobody wants to participate is something that really pisses teachers off, and is a big challenge.

Answer 4

I found it a challenge to teach poetry. It was difficult to get around to listening to everyone's work. And that was very impt. for the poetry unit. The kids get discouraged if no one reads or listens to their work.

Attention? Good journal topics

Divide them in groups and assign group assignments

Oral presentations by the kids....let them teach....put on skits....read a play aloud......charades....games....

Pen Pals....write letters....receive letters....include a video of the class...etc....

Incoprorate music somehow into your lessons. Let them hear a song and pick out the verbs, nouns, prepositions, etc....

Answer 5

During middle school I was in a class of 60 students, some learned, some didn't, some were smart, some weren't. How did the teacher got everybody's attention? with discipline.