Smart Ways to Teach English in Large Classes: Make Every Learner Participate!

 Teaching English to many learners in one class can be hard. If you are a teacher in Rwanda with 50 or even 70 learners, you may feel tired and worried. You may ask:

·         "How can I help every learner speak?"

·         "What if some learners just sit and keep quiet?"

·         "How will I finish my lesson on time?"

These are real questions, and they are common. But there is good news. Even in large classes, you can make English fun, active, and successful  by using group work.

What Is Group Work in Class?

Group work means learners are put into small teams. They work together to complete a task. In English lessons, these tasks could be:

·         Writing a short dialogue

·         Practicing simple questions and answers

·         Reading and summarizing a short story

·         Acting a short role-play

Each learner has a role in the group, so everyone participates.

Why Group Work Works in Big Classes

In Rwanda, many public secondary schools like G.S. Kigeme, G.S. Mahama, and G.S. Mugombwa  have more than 50 learners per class. In such classes, group work is not just helpful; it's necessary!

Here’s why:

·         More Speaking Time: Instead of waiting for one learner to answer, all learners speak at once in groups.

·         Peer Support: Strong learners can help weaker ones understand.

·         Less Shyness: Learners feel safer speaking in small groups than in front of the whole class.

·         More Practice: Learners hear and use English more often.

·         Time-Saving: Teachers can manage many learners at the same time.

How to Do Group Work in a Rwandan Classroom (Step by Step)

Here is a real example of how you can use group work to teach English in your large class:

Divide the Class into Groups

Make 6 to 8 groups, each with 6–9 learners. Mix boys and girls. Also, mix high, middle, and low performers.

Example: A teacher can use bottle tops with numbers to divide her class of 60 learners into 6 groups. Each learner picked a number from a box!

Give a Simple and Clear Task

Use the unit topic in your book. For example, if you are teaching the present simple tense, ask each group:

“Write 5 sentences about your daily routine.” Or:

“Create a short dialogue between two friends talking about school.”

You can also check this lesson for ideas: Talking About Your Daily Routine in English

Give Roles to Each Member

Tell learners to choose roles in their group:

·         Writer – Writes the answers

·         Speaker – Presents to the class

·         Timekeeper – Keeps the group on time

·          Leader – Keeps everyone focused

This helps all learners stay active and organized.

Walk Around and Support

As groups work, the teacher should move around. Listen to groups, help with spelling or grammar, and encourage all voices. You don’t need to correct everything  focus on communication.

 Share answers and Reflect

Let 2 or 3 groups present their work. Clap for every group. Give positive feedback like:

“Great use of the present simple!”
“Nice teamwork!”
“Next time speak a bit louder.”

Ask reflection questions like:

·         “What did we learn today?”

·         “What was easy or hard?”

·         “How can we do better tomorrow?”

When correcting group mistakes, refer to simple grammar tips like those in this blog:
Basic English Grammar Rules for New Learners

Add Visual Aids to Support Group Work

Visuals help learners understand faster, especially in large classes. Try using:

• Flashcards with verbs and pictures
• Posters of classroom routines
• Word walls (new words pinned on the wall)
• Mini whiteboards (reusable) for group answers

Even chalk drawings on the blackboard help! 

Useful External Tools

Here are some websites to get free teaching ideas and materials:

•  British Council TeachingEnglish – Free lesson plans and games
•  Twinkl ESL – Printable worksheets for group tasks
•  TeachThought – Creative strategies for modern classrooms

The Final Thoughts

Teaching English in large classes is not easy, but it is possible. Group work gives every learner a voice. It turns a noisy classroom into a learning team. It reduces teacher stress and makes lessons active and joyful.

When learners speak, listen, and help each other,  the classroom becomes alive with English.

So don’t fear the big class. Use group work. Use visuals. Use love.
You are not just a teacher, you are a guide for 60 dreams!

Many teachers improve their group work methods by learning from others in their school or CoP. Read more in this post:
How English Teacher Communities of Practice Improve Classrooms