The Benefits of Small Class Sizes

Since September of 2005, Dr. Hind Louali has led Ecole Jean-Jacques Rousseau, a school in Austin, Texas. Combining a multidisciplinary approach to learning and small class sizes, Dr. Hind Louali teaches students about French culture. Small class sizes provide many benefits for teachers and students.

Students are motivated to learn because they know that their opinions will be acknowledged and built upon. Conversely, if they are not paying attention, they cannot rely on large class sizes to shield this fact from their instructor and peers. When they share insight on the material, they will receive more immediate and detailed feedback from their peers and instructor than students in a large class.

Instructors benefit from small class sizes because they can tailor their coursework to their students. When the class is 20 students or less, they can adjust the course to suit their learning styles and interests. They can analyze their students’ assignments more thoroughly to determine what changes to make and how help each student succeed.

What Is Mindfulness Training?

As the founder of Ecole Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Dr. Hind Louali operates a French school in Austin, Texas. Outside of work, Dr. Hind Louali is interested in mindfulness training, a type of meditation that grants many benefits for practitioners.

Although mindfulness training can take many forms, each one aims to induce relaxation in the practitioner. This occurs by paying close attention to the sensations, thoughts, and feelings experienced during your chosen mindfulness exercise. During structured mindfulness exercises, you focus on each part of your body and its associated sensations and emotions logically. During unstructured exercises, you focus on your breathing, with your eyes closed, for any amount of time you wish.

Mindfulness exercises produce benefits over extended periods of time, of at least six months. Mindfulness can help people manage the symptoms of their physical and mental health problems. It helps reduce the occurrence and severity of anxiety or depression. Mindfulness also produces physical benefits, like heightened attention and improved sleep quality.