The document discusses the use of class contracts between teachers and students. It presents the perspective of a teacher, Estelle Helouin, who initially had reservations about using class contracts but found benefits after implementing one. The document outlines examples of what a class contract may include, such as expectations for behavior, participation, and language use. It also shares examples of how Estelle involved students in discussions around the contract and examples of how it was referred to positively in class. The overall message is that while class contracts seemed like unnecessary administration at first, establishing clear expectations with students led to constructive discussions and helped foster a positive learning environment.

1. Class contracts?
Why ?!
Estelle Hélouin-IH London

2. An informal but written document detailing
what students can expect from the teacher,
from each other and what the teacher can
expect from students.
What are we talking about?

3. a/ Never
b/ Sometimes
c/ Often
Have you made a contract with
your class?
Do the quiz !Do the quiz !

4. What do you think are :
a/ the advantages
b/ the disadvantages
of having a contract with your class
What do you think of contracts?
Post your thoughts in the chat box.Post your thoughts in the chat box.

5. What I thought…
More admin!
Is this
necessary?
Are students that
bad that they
need rules?
How do I make them
abide by the
contract?

6. What I did at first…
CONTRACT
What the student can expect from the tutor: What the tutor can expect from the students:
•to be respected
•to be in the class on time
•to be professional and approachable
•to teach and cover the learning outcomes mentioned on
the course outline (this may vary slightly depending on
the pace of the group)
•to answer his/her questions (please remember that there
are up to 20 students enrolled on the course so if you
have specific / personal issues, address the tutor on a 1:1
basis)
•to speak the target language as much as possible
•to receive regular feedback on his/her learning both in
class and via corrected homework.
•respect (towards him/herself and towards the other
students)
•to be on time
•to have their mobile phones switched off (except for
emergencies)
•to take an active part in the class, particularly when
working in pairs and/or in groups
•to be approached on a 1:1 basis if there is any personal
issue or question
•to be responsible for their learning (e.g. doing regular
studying and homework)
Just read and tell
me if there’s
anything you want
to change or add.

7. How did my students react?
More
admin!
Surely, that’s
not necessary?
Yeah, yeah,
sure we agree.
That’s good.
Could we
add…
Could we
change… Pfffff…

8. •Good constructive classroom behaviour is not
obvious for everyone.
•Issues are best dealt with when solutions come from
the students and they remember “rules” better.
•For the process to be constructive, give a model to
the students.
•Students enjoy the opportunity of expressing how
they feel about the class.
•The teacher gets a lot of information from the
students.
•Prevention is always best.
•Even irrelevant comments are useful.
•You can take the opportunity to discuss something
that’s important for you as a teacher.
What I learnt…

9. A few examples…
Well done for
changing place,
Pat !
(Big smile) It’s in the
contract!
Are you having
difficulties coming to
class on time, Mary?
Oh, er, no, I’m really
sorry I arrived late.
Shall we say that when you hear me
stopping an activity you tell the
others who haven’t?
We think it’s really
annoying when Estelle
stops an activity and people
continue talking.
Can we keep 5 min at the
end of the class for
questions unrelated to the
lesson?
Everyone happy with this?

10. A few more examples…
Could I add: you have to tell
me if you have a problem
with the class, otherwise I
can’t do anything about it?
YES !!! ☺
How do you feel about
your partner correcting
you when you speak?
Actually, we quite
like it if it’s not all
the time.
Excellent ! ☺We’re happy everything is explained
in French, we only want English if we
really don’t understand.
You seemed to like discussing what
you had read this week, shall we
start every lesson discussing what
you’ve read during the week?
Great! Let’s add it to the
contract. It will force us to
read in French.

11. Any questions or
comments?
The end!
Post your questions or comments in the chat box.Post your questions or comments in the chat box.

12. Class contracts?
Why ?!
Estelle Hélouin-IH London