Hi everyone:
I've been following this strand with great interest. Because no research
has surfaced on this topic, as Donna point out below, I've asked one of
my colleagues at the Center for Adult English Language Acquisition
(CAELA) to do some research on class size for English language learners.
We think we probably won't find research on class size for adult English
language learners in workplace classes, or even in general classes, but
we might find some on English language learners in general. When we find
the research there is, I'll post it to this list.
Miriam

-----Original Message-----
From: workplace-bounces at nifl.gov [mailto:workplace-bounces at nifl.gov] On
Behalf Of Donna Brian
Sent: Friday, January 20, 2006 10:27 AM
To: The Workplace Literacy Discussion List
Subject: Re: [Workplace] Optimal number of students in a classroom reply

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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