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Mastering Classroom Management in English Language Teaching

Master the art of classroom management by learning more about group dynamics and your role in optimising them.

2,866 enrolled on this course

Adult students in a classroom, smiling and raising their hands.
  • Duration

    4 weeks
  • Weekly study

    1 hour

Create an open and supportive class atmosphere

Good classroom management is an essential part of English language teaching. Students who feel they are learning in a supportive and constructive environment feel more confident and better able to participate in classes, allowing their recall and speaking skills to develop more quickly.

On this four-week course from the ELT specialists at Language Fuel, you’ll master the art of classroom management. You’ll gain instantly usable practical tips to apply in your classroom.

Cover the basics of classroom management

Guided by your course leader, you’ll begin by exploring the fundamentals of class management.

You’ll learn how the physical layout of your classroom could impact student interaction, and develop techniques for maximising student talk time.

Gain a deeper understanding of group dynamics

In the second and third weeks of the course, you’ll take a more in-depth look at group dynamics.

You’ll explore what contributes to a good or bad class dynamic, and how you as a teacher can set the tone in your classroom.

Discover activities designed to promote a positive class atmosphere

Once you’ve understood the principles of group dynamics, you can begin developing strategies for managing interactions in your class. You’ll be introduced to a range of group activities designed to promote an open and supportive class atmosphere.

By the end of the course, you’ll know what classroom management involves, and how crucial it is for language learning.

Syllabus

  • Week 1

    Basic Classroom Management

    • Introduction

      This course will help you understand the fundamental principles of classroom management.

    • Student interaction patterns

      Four core principles of classroom management

    • Classroom environment

      Consider each activity and the physical space it requires.

    • Teacher language

      When, what, and how you speak will impact the effectiveness of your lessons.

    • Monitoring and Feedback

      Monitoring student activities helps you target feedback to your students' needs.

    • Summary and reflection

      Review the four components of effective classroom management

  • Week 2

    Getting Started with Group Dynamics

    • Introduction

      What do we mean by group dynamics and why is it important to understand?

    • What is a group?

      Can you identify when a group is a group?

    • Why is it important to understand groups?

      Recognising the role group dynamics plays in learning

    • What makes a good or bad group?

      How do we know what the group dynamics are?

    • Reflection and next steps

      After identifying characteristics of a 'good' group, what next?

  • Week 3

    Raising Student Awareness of Group Dynamics

    • Introduction

      Aiming to build positive classroom dynamics

    • Activities to try

      Some practical exercises for raising students' awareness of the importance of good group dynamics.

    • Effectively putting activities to use

      Eight basic principles and example activities for building good group dynamics

    • Summary & Reflection

      Reflect on the principles and activities that have been discussed

  • Week 4

    Fostering Group Dynamics in Regular Classroom Activities

    • Introduction

      An introduction on fostering group dynamics in the classroom

    • Dual functioning activities

      Practical ideas for lessons that also bind the group together

    • Adapting activities for your classroom

      Adaptations to meet your class needs

    • Summary and reflection

      A chance for users to reflect on what they have learned and how they can apply it.

Learning on this course

On every step of the course you can meet other learners, share your ideas and join in with active discussions in the comments.

What will you achieve?

By the end of the course, you‘ll be able to...

  • Explore the impacts different layouts of a classroom have on student interaction patterns
  • Describe the techniques to maximise student talking time
  • Apply techniques for grading language while giving instructions
  • Describe what makes for good or bad group dynamics
  • Identify activities which will help you develop great group dynamics in your classroom
  • Explore practical activities designed to raise awareness of what it means to work in a group
  • Improve the classroom environment and supportive atomosphere through regular classroom activities

Who is the course for?

This course is for English language teachers working at any level who want to boost their classroom management skills.

Who will you learn with?

I taught English and trained teachers for a decade then moved into workplace learning. I then founded Language Fuel to bring together these two passions. We help English teachers grow their practice.

I have 30 years' experience teaching English, working with all ages and levels. I’ve run teacher training courses and workshops around the world. Now I work in instructional design at Language Fuel.

Who developed the course?

Language Fuel

Language Fuel helps busy teachers to continually improve their practice by providing development on-demand. They find experts in the field of English teaching from all over the world, and invite them to share their wisdom, which is then curated into practical, engaging bite-sized courses that form teacher-specific pathways.

Their mission is to make English teacher professional development relevant, accessible, affordable, and efficient.

Learning on FutureLearn

Your learning, your rules

  • Courses are split into weeks, activities, and steps to help you keep track of your learning
  • Learn through a mix of bite-sized videos, long- and short-form articles, audio, and practical activities
  • Stay motivated by using the Progress page to keep track of your step completion and assessment scores

Join a global classroom

  • Experience the power of social learning, and get inspired by an international network of learners
  • Share ideas with your peers and course educators on every step of the course
  • Join the conversation by reading, @ing, liking, bookmarking, and replying to comments from others

Map your progress

  • As you work through the course, use notifications and the Progress page to guide your learning
  • Whenever you’re ready, mark each step as complete, you’re in control
  • Complete 90% of course steps and all of the assessments to earn your certificate

Want to know more about learning on FutureLearn? Using FutureLearn

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