Classroom Management in EFL Speaking Class: Strategies and Challenges

ABSTRACTThis research was designed to investigate the strategies used and challenges faced by lecturers in managing EFL speaking classes. The researchers used both classroom observation and semi-structured interviews in collecting the data. The participants of this research were three EFL lecturers teaching English Speaking classes at the English Department of Universitas Islam Negeri Ar-Raniry, Banda Aceh, Indonesia. These lecturers were selected purposively; all of them were those assigned to teach the speaking class. Insights of the lecturers on their experiences in managing speaking classes were investigated to examine strategies and challenges they faced. The findings suggest that the lecturers utilized several strategies such as setting the classroom, determining seating arrangements, fostering discipline, applying certain speaking activities, and providing interesting topics to discuss. The data also indicated that the lecturers faced challenges in managing their teaching. Issues such as lack of equipment or teaching media to support speaking activities, students’ lacked self-confidence, and lack of vocabulary were among the challenges faced by the lecturers. ABSTRAKPenelitian ini bertujuan mendapat informasi tentang strategi dan tantangan yang dihadapi dosen di dalam mengelola kelas. Metode pengumpulan data yang digunakan adalah observasi dan wawancara semi-terstruktur. Sumber data atau partisipan dalam penelitian ini adalah 3 dosen yang mengajar kelas Speaking di Prodi Pendidikan Bahasa Inggris, UIN Ar-Raniry Banda Aceh. Para partisipan itu direkrut mengunakan teknik purposive sampling, dimana partisipan yang terlibat adalah yang sudah mengajar speaking selama beberapa semester. Hasil obssrevasi dan wawancara diperoleh informasi bahwa terdapat beberapa strategi dosen di dalam mengelola kelas, diantaranya: menyusun tempat duduk sedimikian rupa, menegakkan disiplin, mengunakan berbagai teknik pembelajaran speaking, dan memberikan topik yang menarik untuk didiskusikan. Penelitian ini juga memperoleh beberapa temuan yang berhubungan dengan tantangan dosen, diantaranya, tidak mencukupi fasilitas yang memadai yang dapat mendukung aktivitas pembelajaran speaking, kurangnya rasa percaya diri dari mahasiswa itu sendiri, dan tidak memadainya kosa kata yang dikuasai mahasiswa juga merupakan tantangan tersendiri dalam pengelolaan kelas speaking.

An Experts' Guide to International Protocol

Although modern life grows increasingly casual, in many sectors, protocol still reigns supreme. An Expert's Guide to International Protocol offers an overview of its associated practices, including those found within the context of diplomatic relations and the business world. Focusing on a wide range of countries and cultures, the book covers topics like seating arrangements, the history and use of flags, ceremonies, invitations, dress codes, and gifts and honours, and the roles of the protocol officer, guest and host. Throughout, influential diplomatic, business, and cultural figures share their own experiences with protocols around the world, also throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.

Competition

This chapter discusses the unavoidability of competition, even among those who renounce the more common forms of competitions for honor, wealth, and so forth. It starts with a discussion of the Garden of Eden and conditions of zero scarcity therein, with but one scarce item: the forbidden fruit. Then the chapter goes on to positional goods, rank-ordering people, which leads to a discussion of seating arrangements, musical chairs, and the failure of King Arthur to resolve the matter with a round table. It then provides a treatment of Christian attempts to avoid honor competitions by elevating humility to the status of one of the chief virtues. But that ends in humility contests and we are back to square one. The chapter ends with a sublime text from Gregory of Tours about a truly humble miracle-working young monk and the efforts to keep him humble despite his miracle-working powers.