A good way to prepare for teaching a large or complicated class is to visualize it. This technique also works with a class that has special importance because you will be observed or because you have reason to make a particularly good impression.

However, it will certainly be important to do this when you want to be your best - when you're about to make a major presentation or when you know that you will be observed. You will also want to do it for those special lessons in which you want to do your best.

Prepare your class in advance and then to visualize yourself standing in front of it and teaching it.

Picture the students doing their thing, with certain students acting up and other students responding.

Visualize the class in your mind. That image can help you imagine many issues or events that may arise, many questions that may be asked, and many disruptions or interruptions that may occur. As in many other cases, forewarned is forearmed. If you are aware of things that they might say then you can prepare yourself and make a better impression.

Picture the students - some are ornery, some are listening, some are drooping or dozing off, some are fighting with others, and so on. Visualize or imagine or imagine the doubts, hesitations, or questions that the students may have. Answer those issues or questions readily and with credibility.

After visualizing the class one, two, or three times, when you do step into class you will feel that you've already taught it. This will not be the first time that you're dealing with this level. You've already ironed out some of the more difficult problems. You're walking in as a professional. You now have the confidence and the ability to teach the class "one more time." Even though it may be the first time that you are teaching this material, you will feel that you've already taught it a number of times.

It's important that you try to visualize or picture any known problems or interruptions that are likely to take place in the class and imagine how you will handle them. Picture how you will deal with the situations and how you will present your information.

Note the conditions under which you have difficulties. If you can't handle the issues while visualizing the situation, then you are not likely to be able able to do it much more successfully in the real world.

You will handle it in a much better way and you will feel much more secure if you are prepared in advance and have fewer surprises as a result.

This preparation will also mean that you have to refer to your notes or your lesson plan less frequently and you will be able to be more natural as you speak. The more natural you are, the more you are able to handle the eventualities that arise and the easier it will be to return to the subject at hand.

The beauty of this system is that it is designed for busy people. You can visualize the class when you are doing many other things:

• While cooking dinner
• While waiting for the bus
• While out taking a walk
• While lying in bed
• Whenever you find it convenient

You don't have to set aside time for this preparation.

If you would be embarrassed to speak out loud in a public place, then don't do it out loud. Just use your imagination.