Pushpa Priya

Teaching is a platform where teachers impart knowledge to students, the more they share, the more they learn. In this sense, teaching involves both the teaching and learning process with the active participation of both teachers and students. In the teaching profession, teachers can demonstrate their mass commanding skills, mass facing skills, leadership skills and interpersonal skills etc. Teaching is however not an easy task to perform; especially when a large class is set up for teachers to teach diverse learners. This write-up intends to discuss challenges, opportunities and solutions for teaching large classes in difficult circumstances.
Teachers confront difficult situations in a large class, and it is also one of the major issues in English language teaching. Mainly two types of difficulty are observed. First, problems faced by the teachers and second, problems faced by the students. 
This difficulty mainly comes due to many problems like discipline issue, diverse learners from different socio-cultural and economic backgrounds, different learning capabilities, different psychological state of mind, different emotional makeup in showing reaction to certain things, distractions such as latecomers and students chatting during class time. Students in a large class often have mixed abilities, and it is difficult to provide students with such different levels and needs” (Smith, R; 2018 “Large class Teaching Challenges and Possible Responses”).

Management Problems
 Individualising work is also thought to pose problems. Management problems that include checking a large number of writing assignments, group discussion or pair/group work is difficult to execute. Inadequate resources and classroom conditions that are conducive to teaching and learning. Teachers may also have encountered culture shock as students from different cultures belong to that learning environment.
 Besides, teachers face challenges in terms of getting an answer of “Can we give the students personal attention? How can we get them interacting with each other? What can we do to make the organisation smooth and effective? (Harmer, Jeremy: “The practice of English Language Teaching'')
 According to Hyes1 (1997) most English teachers tend to view teaching English in a large class in negative ways as it results in a lack of students’ attentiveness, class interaction; and therefore lacking speaking and mass facing skills abilities. 
Problems faced by students are viewed in the form of passive learners, inattentive, hesitate to share doubts and views; while problems faced by teachers are viewed as unable to give individual attention, noisy class, cannot manage to check all assignments, and unable to prepare students with learning abilities.
The attitude towards teaching large classes in difficult situations differs from one teacher to another. Some teachers find it as a matter of pride to become a teacher of a large class as it provides many opportunities; while, some struggle to entertain it as an opportunity.  Viewing from a positive light provides opportunities for both teachers and students.
 First and foremost, it provides an opportunity to demonstrate different skills like leadership skills, mass facing skills, communication skills, creative and critical thinking skills. According to Teachers in Action, BBC World Service, it provides an opportunity for students to share many different ideas and interesting life experiences. 

Possible Solutions
Similarly, children can learn to share responsibility and help each other. Teaching in large classes gives a chance to teachers to demonstrate their inner qualities like patience, determination, courage; etc. Provides an opportunity for the teachers to begin action research in the classroom. Moreover, teachers start being well acquainted with different cultural values. Furthermore, it allows language teachers to imbibe emotional intelligence in students; Goleman (2005).
Some of the possible solutions come from teachers working on self for professionalism; and managing class and adopting contextual based pedagogy.  Teachers’ behaviour has a great impact on students’ learning. Teachers should have respect for individual differences and have a non-judgmental attitude that enhances or improves a student's overall performance. 
Likewise, Teachers’ command over their teaching subject matter also helps in managing large classes.
Teaching ways should be simplified too that would immediately help to grasp the attention of the students from diverse abilities.   Maintaining punctuality, regularity, and staying a few minutes after class to address the query of individual questions. (Knchah, K.and Smith, R.2011 “Pedagogy of Make rapport with students”). 
Positive Psychology pedagogy provides students with an equitable environment and stimulates the overall growth of students that also helps them feel unique and  talented which results in managing class in a better way. Jeremy Harmer’s book “The Practice of English Language Teaching” in the chapter ‘large class’ has shown several key elements in successful large-group teaching like Teachers need to be organized, establish and use routines, use different pace for different activities, maximize individual work, use worksheets, use pair work and group work for effecting teaching and learning. 
 Positive Psychology pedagogy provides students with an equitable environment and stimulates the overall growth of students. Practising emotional intelligence in large classes helps in maintaining discipline and smooth teaching and learning processes; Goleman (2005).

(The writer teaches English at colleges)