In large classes, teachers can assign conversation partners in a number of ways. One way to change conversation partners easily is to use a class map.

• First, your teacher draws a map on the board, with "Xs" and "Os" representing students, like this:
  
  

• Then, when you change partners, students who are "Xs," stay in their seats, while students who are "Os," move according to the arrows.

Teachers. of course, can ask students to move any number of spaces—1, 2, 5, etc. Besides adjusting conversation time and frequency, you can adjust the "turns" of the chain and the direction(s) of movement (by redrawing arrows). Odd numbers of students can sit together and all be part of the line that moves.

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©Duane Kindt, Nagoya University of Foreign Studies, 99-10
Revised last: 2/18/06