Job Discussion Forums

nwtefl · Joined: 20 May 2015 Posts: 148 Location: England

Just out of interest, what class sizes have you experienced in the ME?

currentaffairs · Joined: 22 Aug 2012 Posts: 828

In Saudi, most classes in vocational colleges and PYP programs are around 25 max. However, you get a lot of absences and often I would be teaching around 15 students..

veiledsentiments · Joined: 20 Feb 2003 Posts: 17644 Location: USA

Over the years, my classes ranged from 5 to 28/30. There was one odd non-EFL classes that they registered 58, and I refused till they cut in half.

Seriously, it very much depends on the country, type of institution, and employer. I have had friends at small private universities who ended up with 50+ in basic TEFL classes... insanity. This is one of those questions where once you get an offer, you come here and check on the class sizes at that institution.

VS

MuscatGary · Posted: Thu Jun 11, 2015 12:49 am Post subject:

At the CAS Colleges in Oman there is a notional limit of 25 per class but I experienced classes up to 38. On top of that they were mixed ability classes!

Gulezar · Joined: 19 Jun 2007 Posts: 483

It varies. I've had classes of four and classes where two classes were taught together for group work of 40 or so, but the normal class size is 15 to 20. For the double classes, I suppose the idea is that when teachers are facilitators they are not really teaching and can manage 40 students. However, it is more likely an administrative decision when they run out of classrooms.

nomad soul · Joined: 31 Jan 2010 Posts: 11454 Location: The real world

johnslat · Posted: Thu Jun 11, 2015 12:15 pm Post subject:

And "change" in this context means "increase." The chances of class sizes at any institution actually decreasing are virtually nil.

Class size defies the axiom: "What goes up must come down." Very Happy

Regards,
John

currentaffairs · Joined: 22 Aug 2012 Posts: 828

On the programs I worked on class sizes often did decrease as more teachers were taken on board. In Saudi, it is the least of your problems I would say. Classes at universities and colleges tend to be fairly small (15-20 in practice) which compares favourably to around 30 in public universities in Japan, for example.

johnslat · Posted: Thu Jun 11, 2015 1:57 pm Post subject:

Dear currentaffairs,

Interesting. In all my years in Saudi, class sizes moved in only one direction - in my experience.

In fact, trying to hold down the increases was a constant battle.

Anyone else have any input?

Regards,
John