Speakers
Description
Language Language teachers frequently use pairwork for pattern practice or discussion. Students in Asian contexts, however, can be exceedingly shy. To extroverts, working with peers comes naturally; they relish the opportunity to meet new people. Introverts, however, may require external guidance to navigate the waters of social interaction. Even choosing a seat in an open classroom is not a decision to be taken lightly. Another challenge is when students form cliques, getting off-task and excluding others. A seating chart can effectively remedy basic problems of classroom management. The instructor assigns each student a classroom ID number, and students have assigned seats. Students rotate in circles that move clockwise and counter-clockwise, this is, in randomly assigned pairs. This ensures that over a 15-week semester, students work with a new partner each class. How do the students feel about seating charts? This presentation explains how to arrange a seating chart, and also reports the reactions of students (N=129). Although a seating chart is not a perfect tool, results show that the charts helped promote a better atmosphere, enhanced student experience, and even improved student performance.
| Presentation location | In person (Kumamoto) |
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