The influence of large classes in the English language teaching – learning process in Ecuadorian high schools.

Abstract

The topic of this research study addressed “The influnce of large classes in the English language teaching – learning process in Ecuadorian high schools”. Whose purpose is to analyze the instructional social and psychological implications that teachers and students face in large classes. The research sample was taken from two Ecuadorian high schools, located in Azogues city. The respondents belong to the eight year of education to the first year of senior high school. The students were surveyed by a questionnaire containing 21 statements ( 9 focusing on academic issues, 5 on social and 7 on psychological). The purpose of using the quantitative method in this research was to measure the level on insidence of the implications previously cited. Main findings reveal us that students in large classes do benefit with activities related to instructional implications as interaction and practice with the language skills. While, in social implications teachers do not remember all students´ names. Finally, in psychological implications large classes affect the quality of classroom atmosphere, sudents´ confidence to speak in class, and the teachers´ level of attention toward them.