Ronna and all,

My major professor used to tell those who asked that the optimal class size 
was one student: in other words, one-on-one tutoring.  I'm not sure I 
believe that in all cases, since class interaction provides richness too, 
especially for English Language Learners, but the idea that smaller is 
better and that we do usually have to compromise with what is best based on 
our good judgment along with the resources available is probably 
right.  You seem to have a lot of experience and expertise, so I think you 
should tell this organization that your good judgment does not agree, and 
that you don't find that number of learners per class to be workable.  You 
will ultimately have to be the one to set your limits, and their choice 
will be to retain you or not.

This topic has raised a lot of interesting points, hasn't it? Ronna 
originally asked for research to back her personal expertise, and I don't 
think anyone has provided any.  We've all had personal expertise to share, 
though.  So is there research out there specifically pertaining to optimal 
class size for a "low-level ESL classroom?"  Or is there only class size 
research available for other populations?  Research relevance to the adult 
ed population is often the question for us, isn't it?

Thanks for all these good posts!

Donna

Donna JG Brian
Moderator, NIFL Workplace Literacy Discussion List, and
Coordinator/Developer LINCS Workforce Education Special Collection at 
http://worklink.coe.utk.edu/
Center for Literacy Studies at The University of Tennessee
600 Henley Street, Suite 312
Knoxville, TN 37996-4135

865-974-3420 (desk phone) FAX 865-974-3857
djgbrian at utk.edu


At 1/19/2006 -050010:48 AM, you wrote:

>In my 15 year experience in the classroom and as a student in education 

>classrooms spanning the same time,  the optimal number for special 

>populations has been cited at around 15.  This means there is time for the 

>teacher to interact with each student and increases time on task. 50 in a 

>class is far too much for such an interactive necessity as language 

>learning, unless the person who told you believes that learning a language 

>is a passive process akin to watching t.v.(which it is not). In any 

>conversation with a professional educator who knows the research that I 

>have had, the understanding is that lower class size matters greatly, and 

>this goes for all populations (and especially if you are talking K-12, 

>ESL, and Special Ed.)

>

>Wm. Peter MacMonagle, M.Ed.

>Central Piedmont Community College

>West Campus 2219

>Community Development/Workplace Basic Skills

>704-330-4668

>

>Murphy's Law of Possibility: All things are possible

>except skiing through a revolving door.

>

>

>

>-----Original Message-----

>From: workplace-bounces at nifl.gov on behalf of Ronna

>Sent: Wed 1/18/2006 4:21 PM

>To: 'The Workplace Literacy Discussion List'

>Subject: [Workplace] Optimal number of students in a classroom

>

>Help me please.... I'm working with this organization that insists that they

>had an ESL teacher who told them that you can effectively teach 50 people at

>a time.  I've been teaching workplace ESL and regular ESL for 15 years,

>doing teacher training AND have a masters in TESOL and have never heard

>that.  She really frustrated me, so I need some facts/research about the

>optimal number of students in a low level ESL classroom.  At the university,

>we never had more than 25.  In the workplace, I never allow more than 30 to

>sign up.

>

>Please help and THANKS!!!!

>

>

>------------------------------------

>Workplace ESL Solutions

>Ronna Timpa

>Author, Leader & Motivator

>ronna at WorkplaceESL.com

>tel: (702) 873-3520

>fax: (702) 896-5689

>mobile: (702) 812-2161

>------------------------------------

>

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