Korean Job Discussion Forums

[crazylemongirl]

I'm having a bit of a battle with my co-teacher over classroom layout. At the moment the big rage in educational literature here seems to be about placing students in groups. I despise groups because it's hard for me to walk around the classroom and the kids are often facing a perpendicular angle to the board.

So I found out very early on it was better to keep the kids in their rows and let them move if they need to do a group activity.

I'm in favor of rows because I can easily see my 40-45 students faces all at one time and am easily able to see if they are off tast or not. I also like being able to walk around and check on stuff.

So is it rows or teams for you?

[Ekuboko]

I prefer rows for the same reasons as you, but as I only teach half a class at a time, I have more space so I like to stagger the rows so I can see each student's face and they can't hide behind the person in front.

When I know I'm going to be doing something in groups - like a quiz or a card game - I'll put the desks into groups before they come to class. However, instead of having two desks facing 2 desks (so students are all side on to the front), I have the back 2 desks of the group facing the front and the two front desks of the group to the side - works a lot better.

I don't know about Korea, but when I worked in Japan, the students were really quick to organize their desks into groups when we gave the signal, so having them in rows to begin with was the norm.

[Freezer Burn]

ROWS
The grouping of desks promotes distractions, they have the ability to look at thier friends and talk rather than concentrate on the work set.
Plus its a pain in the arse talking to kids when they are looking at the wall instead of you.

[manlyboy]

I'm a big believer in student-centered learning, so I think groups are much better.
When I started here they had 4 rows of 10+ students, and it was very difficult and time consuming to get them into groups - which I do every lesson. Now, I've got seven round tables with 6 students each, so they're ready to go instantly. When I want them to focus on me, I just have them turn their chairs towards the blackboard. It takes all of ten seconds.
My students prefer it this way, too. It gives the room a much more relaxed feel, eases inhibitions, and helps the shy ones open up more easily.

[Yu_Bum_suk]

I prefer rows as well - they can easily do stuff in partners, if they aren't already in rows of twos. If you really want to do some group work stuff you can start off in rows and then waste a minute moving into groups - it's much easier that way.

[SPINOZA]

Coincidentally enough, I've discovered today that rows of individual students suits me better than groups. I cannot use my classroom for 2 weeks, so I've got to go to the students' classrooms. I didn't like the idea at first because I obviously want to get the kids talking to one another (preferably including a bit of English) in the group layout I use (big tables only) but with rows you get the best of both worlds. They can still form groups simply enough and yet - as others have said - all unanimously face the front, cho yong hi he, and pay attention when appropriate. I get sick of groups at the back talking constantly and doing f_ck all work; with rows that simply doesn't happen! Behaviour, noise levels are much better. Plus, their rooms are much smaller than my room and when I shout it nearly deafens them - unlike my big room where getting silence and attention is a bit like trying to convert Osama Bin Laden to Orthodox Judaism.

I enjoyed my job before but now it rules.

[JacktheCat]

I think it really comes down to class size and English level of the students.

For small classes, twenty or less, with a high level of English, groups would be preferable.

But for classes like my rural high school ones with +40 students who struggle to answer the question "What do you like to do on the weekend?" groups would a receipe for disaster.

[sheba]

Im at a hagwon so the classes are smaller, but I prefer the U shape. That way I can see them all, they can all see me and the board, and it promotes discussion (but I can still control noise levels). I prefer naughty classes to be in test rows though!

[peppermint]

Groups can work- if you've got carefully assigned seating. That and a system of rewards based on working as a team.

[schwa]

Middleschool kids, classes of 36 or 38, I've used nothing but groups for years. (They know to have the desks arranged before I arrive.)

One big advantage I see is the lowest-level kids getting at least an intermediated version of whats going on from their teammates. I've got a range of techniques for getting random students to stand & speak but everything we do its understood that its teamwork -- the kids can help each other out.

In rows, too many would just be lost, & the brighter kids would get bored.

[crazylemongirl]

[Col.Brandon]

One advantage of groups is that their pencil cases crash to the floor much less often; there's less "empty space" for the students to launch their equipment into.

[john]

I like to have the students in a semicircle "U" so I have access and I provide access to all of the students. It is easy to do pair work and group work just takes a little moving.

[Billy Pilgrim]

I used to have the semi-circle at my last college, but class sizes are bigger where I am now, so I have reverted to simple groups, and it really does foster spontaneous conversation. I would still favor the semi-circle of it was feasible, but groups work just fine.

Rows do nothing for me when it comes to adult learners.

[Billy Pilgrim]