2^nd batch General Observation 18

September 26, 2003

ELI

Current Issues Levels 3,4,and 5

Today a student was presenting a story to the class.  It was a short fiction piece.  The student had prepared a brief lecture and discussion questions.  I wrote my name on the board and sat down in a corner of the room.  I asked who was teaching today.  The student who was scheduled to teach the class said, I don't know.  They asked where Emily was and I said that she was on vacation and that I am substitute teaching for her but that I wasn't teaching.  I asked again, "Who's teaching?"  The student got up and began his presentation.

He began asking his discussion questions and no one in the class would answer.  I wasn't sure if they hadn't read the story or just didnt want to speak.  I've found that a surefire way to get students talking is to move them into a circle because when they have to look each other in the eyes each time a question is presented, everyone feels pressured to speak.  Also, I think that it makes everyone more equal that way, including the teacher. 

It worked this time once we were in a circle, the conversations began.  Additionally, the presenter relaxed because he had everyones attention now.  Also, he was a part of the circle, but was sitting up on the teachers desk.  Therefore, he was the highest point in the circle, which gave him more control of his audience, I think.

I had a student challenge me at the beginning of the class.  He told me that I wasn't a real teacher.  I said, "I'm not?  Do you know enough about me to know if that's true?  Well, do you?"  He shied away and apologized.  I had the control of the class at that point.

After we moved into the circle we really had some great discussions.  We talked about issues in the countries and homes of other peoples countries that pertained to the story.   

This was a big class, over fifteen students, so I wasn't sure how the discussion would go.  I think that small group discussions are often better than in large groups because each person has more talk time.  However, it went pretty well.