Hi everybody!

I think ít is very true that as hard as we try to buid a peaceful, co-operative classroom environment, conflicts do sometimes emerge in our work. Sometimes conflicts arise between the teacher and a specific student or group of students, while other times teachers have to manage classroom situations where conflicts arise between students.

In either case, I think one of the keys to successful conflict resolution is communication. Conflicts often arise out of a lack of communicaton or out of miscommunication, and open channels of dialogue and an emphasis on really listening to each other can often avoid misunderstandings which later give rise to conflict sitiations from happening in the first place.

When a conflict between a student and a teacher arises, I feel that it is very important for the teacher not to lose respect for the student concerned, and to initiate honest communication about the problem. This communication must be two way, and listening to the student´s perspective, and trying to understand their viewpoint can go a long way yo working together to find a solution.

When a conflict arises between students, again, I feel that it is important for the teacher not to ignore the situation, but to talk to the students concerned, both individually, and, if appropriate, to act as a mediator.

Placing more emphasis on what it means to be a gooc communicator, in teacher training courses, particularly in terms of trying out strategies for conflict resolution and mediation, could be a good way to prepare teachers for this very important part of our classroom role. Furthermore, making these skills an integral part of language learning would help our students to develop these vital skills for interacting in English in a multicultural world.

Helen

Hi Helen,

I read  your reaction and I did appreciate your insightful views. The conflict resolution issue Tarik mentioned is of high importance. Initiating ss to the question of conflict management can have very positive aftermaths in the future of the future generations. This educational strategy can contribute to a promising future far from the bellicosity we are witnessing nowadays.

Cheers-Mostafa MOUHIBE-LMCS moderator

Dear colleagues:

I have read your posts as regards the topic of conflict resolution skills and remembered about a course that teachers at my school attended last year. It dealt with the topic of conflict resolution and a positive or assertive view to education. It started with the idea that violence appears in our classrooms due to lack of values in teaching, as well as a lack of positive communication. Helen already dealt with this topic, so I would like to add some other views present within the assertive pedagogy. It encourages teachers to know their students likes and dislikes in order to organise their teaching around them; trust students and give them responsibilities; center education around meaningful tasks paying attention to multiple intelligences while training them in social abilities.

It is very important to build a positive atmosphere in class, departing from an optimistic attitude, which can be educated not only focusing on individuals, but also on whole groups. Once this positive atmosphere has been created, a disposition to happiness and joy can be present facilitating successful teaching in our classrooms.

One useful activity that any teacher can put to practice is called “the positive chair”. Students take turns to sit in front of the class on the “positive chair”, while their classmates express only positive ideas and adjectives about him/her. The objective is to create an intense positive atmosphere among the students in the class which will benefit emotional cohesion, at the same time that they use the language and revise their linguistic knowledge. This technique has been very useful in my classes, and my students still ask me to try the “positive chair” once again!

I hope we can read more comments from colleagues from all around the world. It would be great to share more ideas and points of view! Regards,

Paula