Teaching in a Variety of Modes

Abstract

As in the United States, the classroom in Western Europe must be viewed as central in the teaching-learning process. That classroom consists of the teacher and a particular configuration of students, a subject or subjects to be studied, a time span available for this task, and materials which provide information, exercises, inspiration, enthusiasm, or verification. To this we may add desks and chairs, often a chalkboard, windows which allow the occupants to look at a tiny slice of life, and room decoration ranging from pictures to maps to student work to manipulables or other learning aids. Together these provide an ambience, an atmosphere which may generate intense teaching and learning, may further one but not the other, or may even interfere with both teaching and learning.