Mirroring the Effect of Stuffed Classes on the Utility of ESP Classes: Challenges and Students vs. Teachers Attitudes

Abstract

Aligned with the growing demands for higher education in Iran and rush of people to enjoy advanced education benefits, the students and teachers are facing with the problem of overcrowded classes. Thus, this paper is an attempt to investigate the perceptions and attitudes of the students and teachers towards stuffed classes. The study sample consisted of 110 students and 15 teachers both males and females. The study concentrated only on ESP classes of medical students in Zanjan University of medical sciences. Teaching large classes' questionnaire (TLCQ) was used for data collection. Questionnaire was used as research instrument. The tool was adapted from the research study of Ijaiya (1999). Data were analyzed using SPSS software for descriptive statistics. From the perspective of the teachers, they did not have a good and satisfactory attitude towards such classes and claimed that management of such classes was difficult and demanding compared to small size classes. Continuous noise from here and there in the classroom situation was a nuisance and meddled in the teaching processes while dismangled the listening students and teachers themselves. The results indicated that the teachers in such classes have to take traditionally based teaching modes of instruction mostly monotonous lectures without engaging students. The pupil could not concentrate due to various parasites such as noise. It is recommended that government and policy makers provide the education venues with appropriate facilities restrict the number of students in classes and train ample number of professional teachers to attend classes in small size. The study suggested no significant difference between males and females and also there was not a difference in the young vs. old teachers.