OP10 : STUDNET-TEACHER RATIO - large or small class size

[OP10]

Consider the following statement:

It is impossible to implement effective English language instruction in Korean schools on account of the student to teacher ratio in each class.

Do you agree or disagree with this statement? Why or why not? Use reasons and examples to support your opinion.



Korea is the one of the countries where people has high interest in learning. Almost students attend elementary school and more than 80% of students go to colleges or universities after graduating from high school. Because of that, the class ratio of Korean school has always been higher than average compared to other countries. For example, America, Japan or other competitive countries' students to teacher ratio is roughly fifteen to one. However Korea, it's more than 30 to 1. I think this large class size deters teachers to organize desirable class quality in teaching language. Though interaction between teacher and students is the most important activity in language learning, a teacher to more than 30 stuents ratio is impossible to provide constant responses to all of students. Moreover, the class size more than 10 students is difficult to make students take part in the lecture.

The most effective class is not made by teachers efforts only. The backgrounds also need to be set in the fashion to realize the classes teachers designed. However, the more and more students teachers have to take care of, the less and less materials are provided during the class, cause the activity is designed to be done as one to one activity-a teacher to a student. When teacher interacts with a students as often as possible, students make great progress in their learning. If not, the efficiency would be decreased in proportion to the number of students in one class. Actually in Native teachers' classes, the total number of students don't exeed 10. Maximum 10 students is the most desirable number in learning language. However in Korea, it is not possible to organize such a small classes. Because, there aren't enough teachers who will teach lots of students in elementary school. That's one of the factors which block the effective English language instruction.

Secondly, if the class-size is bigger than 10, students are easy to be inattentive to the class, because teacher cannot control all of the students to keep concentrating on the class. For example, the more students are in one class, the more chances exist for students to whisper themselves. If these kinds of action happen once, twice, or more, the children who didn't take part in the class will fall behind and won't catch up with their classmates in the end. On the other hand, if the class is smaller than 10 students, teachers can notice what students are doing in the class individually. Therefore students cannot help concentrating on the class. Because they feel that teacher keeps an eye on them. Students would like to draw teacher's attention. Still, if their goal is failed, they lost their interests. Thus they don't study and pay attention to the class. Small class size offer students to equal attention from teacher.

Thus in whatever subjects, if teacher can pay constant attention to students, students will be active in class trying to study harder and asking more questions. Current class ratio couldn't be the class like these. Teachers naturally focused on outstanding students, the students beyond average were losing their interest. It results that high-scored students keep participating in the class, get more feedbacks, and increase their language ability, while the other students were weeded out in the class. That's all because of large-class size. I believe that lower teacher to students ratio would be better to implement effective English language instruction if the situation is afford to do it.

I agree with your opinion. In big size class, students can not get individualized attention from teachers and also it is hard for them to be concentrated on the class. You support your idea suggesting some examples and disadvantages which may appear when the the class is conducted in big class and this helps me understand your idea better