A Class of Students
Four is the maximum number of students I have in my lessons, and I think four is a good maximum number. It’s a number that gives enough time for people to speak and listen, and, if they need it, enough time for people to think about what to say until it’s their turn to speak.
Four people is something my brain can handle, so one of my fears about co-teaching with Matsutani-san was having more than four students. Last week wasn’t bad because I asked the students to work in teams and to sit at the desks in the middle of the room, so my attention was focused on one group of people or two groups of people instead of six different people.
Yesterday was different. I had them work in groups of two people and asked them to sit at three desks from one side to the other side of the classroom, and it was very challenging for me. I felt my attention stretch and I had a hard time organizing my thoughts and assessing how they were doing.
I don’t know what I looked like at that time, but inside my brain was going 120kph trying to remember their names and what they said, identifying their mistakes and who made the mistakes, remembering who was doing well and who seemed to be having a hard time, and paying attention to the student at one end of the room while also giving attention to the students at the other end of the room.
It was crazy. 😜
Rather, I was going crazy. 😂😂
I always thought that teachers teaching at regular schools with 30 to 40 students in a class must have a harder job than me, but I think that more now. I can’t imagine how they do it, and I respect them for it.
I would like to say that one day I will be able to do it, but I don’t think so.
My brain might die. 😂😂