Using a Lecture and Tutorial Approach in Teaching Large Classes

Abstract

This study was conducted to investigate how English language teaching using a lecture and tutorial system worked with a large class. The study involved 65 students taking their last English foundation course at King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi. Two researchers taking turns delivered the lessons in a large class as a lecture session and conducted a tutorial session with 15-16 students. The results from the questionnaire showed that the students preferred the tutorial mode to the lecture mode. However, they still rated learning in a conventional class highly. The students’ perceptions contradicted the perceptions of the teacher/researcher who was satisfied with the teaching and regarded the teaching in lectures as successful. Therefore, we cannot reach any conclusions concerning appropriate modes of teaching English in large classes.