English Education and Large Classes: Unpacking the Challenges and Coping Strategies
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17507/tpls.1203.08Keywords:
challenges, perception, teaching large classesAbstract
The purposes of our study were to explore the perceptions of English teachers’ on the challenges and the strategies in teaching large classes. Our participants were English teachers. We investigated the case in two large classes through a qualitative case study. We employed observations and interviews to collect the data. To analyze the qualitative data from observations and interviews, the thematic analysis was used. We analyzed the data first by putting all the data into computer files and the filed folders after transcribing the raw data into texts. Then, we began making codes for all of data and themes that are related to our research questions. The last, we presented the table of themes and codes into the findings and results. Based on the data analysis, we found seven important challenges encountered by our participants in teaching large classes including poor class conditions, difficulties or problems in controlling/monitoring the discipline of their students, the equality of attention to students, difficulties or problems in evaluating their students, ineffectiveness or uselessness of learning processes, deficient interest in learning English, the dominant use of local languages. In terms of strategies, we found six important strategies employed by our participants in dealing with the challenges including punishment, variety of games, quiz, pair work or group work, supporting media, and speaking test. In conclusion, our participants faced teaching challenges while they also found some approaches or methods to deal with the problems.
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