Current theories on effective learning stress the participation of the student in all aspects of the process; far from being passive receptacles into which information is poured and stored, students need active involvement in order to succeed. Yet how many teachers really consult their students about their opinions? Indeed how can this best be done? Below I give a questionnaire that allows students to offer their views on classroom management, materials, organisation of work, activities and teaching style. Teachers wishing to give the students the questionnaire should ensure first that they understand all the questions.

Instructions: Read the statements and grade each one according to your opinion:
1= I agree completely
2= I usually agree
3=I rarely agree
4=I disagree.

Classroom Management

I like the teacher to tell me where to sit.
I like the teacher to change the classroom layout for different activities.
I like to welcome new students into my class
I like to have more than one teacher for my class.
I like to be allowed to sit in the same place every day.

Materials

I like to work through a course book systematically.
I like my teacher to produce original lessons.
I like to work with authentic materials.
I like to do work that does not require a book.
I like to be able to write on the materials provided.

Organisation of work

I like to have regular homework.
I like to do the same things at the same time each day.
I like to work individually and at my own pace.
I like the whole class to work on the same exercise at the same time.
I like to work in pairs or groups.

Activities

I like to do grammar and vocabulary exercises in class.
I like work that involves a lot of listening.
I like working with computers.
I like work that requires a lot of reading.
I like exercises that require me to workout the answers for myself.

Teaching style

I like the teacher to decide the work programme.
I like the teacher to help individual students with their problems.
I like the teacher to organise the pairs and group
I like the teacher to discuss ideas and problems with the class.
I like the teacher to make rules and define acceptable behaviour in the classroom.

For a discussion of factors affecting the classroom environment, see Fraser, The Classroom Environment, Croome Helm, 1987.