Challenges of English Language Classroom Management in Bangladesh

Challenges of English Classroom Management
in Bangladesh

Farhad Uddin Ahmed Bhuiyan
Classroom management is an integral part of teaching and learning in the domain
of education. It is a skill that should be achieved to make a successful class.
Without proper management of the classroom, it is not possible to ensure quality
education. Frankly speaking, classroom management is an interaction between
teachers and students. It is a difficult task. Managing a classroom varies
depending on the number of factors including subject matter, place of teaching
and the level of education. Especially, managing an English language classroom is
expected to be dissimilar from managing math, history, geography and biology
classes.
Classroom management differs from one teacher to another on the basis of
teachers’ personality, mentality, teaching style, preparations and the number of
students in the classroom. It involves how the teacher works, how the class
works, how the teacher and students work together and how teaching and
learning takes place. The national education policy of Bangladesh (2010) largely
emphasizes on effective classroom management for teaching and learning. Since
the learners occupy much time in classroom activities, it is imperative for a
teacher to manage the classroom successfully so that students can learn
spontaneously and fruitfully. For ensuring an effective language teaching, it is
very significant to follow the principles of classroom management. The
fundamentals of classroom management include establishment of transparent
teacher and student roles, articulation of unambiguous objectives and goals,
flexibility, letting students pick some choices, do activities and exercises, taking
students’ personal interest into knowledge, open-mindedness to all students,

exhibiting enthusiasm and a positive attitude. However, most of the principles of
classroom management are not successfully maintained for teaching English in
Bangladesh especially in the rural areas.
Conducting English language class at different levels in Bangladesh is a big
challenge for a teacher. The major difficulties and challenges a teacher has to face
are over-crowded classrooms, lack of proper seating arrangement, lack of
appropriate teaching materials, old-fashioned benches which restrict movement,
noises and voices from other classes, lack of effective assessment, lack of
infrastructure, lack of multimedia classroom with proper audio- visual aids and
projectors, lack of smart board, lack of internet connectivity, lack of collaboration
from principal and other colleagues, short timing of class, students’ inattention
and callousness, students’ English phobia and finally load shedding and so on.
Moreover, there are many challenges behind English classroom management at
rural colleges in Bangladesh. Firstly, teachers have not enough training in English
classroom management and communicative language teaching methods. So, their
roles and responsibilities in the classroom are not clear to students. Most of the
teachers follow the traditional lecture method in communicative English class.
Besides, teachers have little pedagogical knowledge to various problems created
in the classroom. Secondly, the over-crowded classroom generally creates an
adverse impact in teaching and learning. Besides, teachers of English experience a
lot of problems in handling a big class. The normal length of the classroom ranges
from 100-120 students especially in degree colleges. So, it is difficult for a teacher
to pay due attention to individual students let alone taking feedback.
In spite of various difficulties and challenges, a large classroom can be managed
by following some strategies such as engagement, communication,
individualization, motivation, recreation, doing warm up activity, arranging group
work and pair work. Again, careful planning, clear instruction and staying
connected are essential for dealing with problems in the classroom. Effective
instruction is the key terms of classroom management. To instruct any lesson
effectively, a teacher must play multiple roles such as leader, knower, director,
manager, counselor, guide, friend, parent, etc. in the classroom. The teacher’s
voice and body language are also important for effective classroom management.
The most significant condition of good teaching is voice projection. Loud and
booming voice is not necessary for good teaching.

A well planned and organized lesson is necessary to make a class successful.
Besides, teachers should pay attention to an individual student, provide opinions
and comments on the improvement of every student, inspire students to nourish
their creativity and views, welcome and applaud their ideas, act with them as a
team, and creating a proper feel of vicarious delight when they learn something
new. However, creating a friendly, relaxing, collaborative and encouraging
classroom atmosphere can contribute to conduct a successful English class.