We've all had talkers in class.  But have you ever watched your other participants' faces as they struggle to deal with an obvious annoyance like 2 people who won't shut up?  This type of distraction is not just a pet peeve - it's bad for your class. 

A talker is a problem for a variety of reasons, but the bottom line is that they are a problem.  Since you are the instructor, the room is your domain.  And the class is looking to you to be in control.  If you don't stand up to someone who is annoying everyone your attendance will suffer.

Listed below are a few tried and true methods:

Stand by - Walk right over to the talker and teach from the spot right beside her.  Don't say a word to her, and don't acknowledge that you have even changed your location in the room.  Just teach from right beside her for a minute.  I like to pick the loudest talker and teach right beside her, but you can also position yourself in the middle of the conversation.  I don't know why this works, but it does.  When they see you coming, they shut up.

Turn it up - Two options - turn up the music or turn up the intensity. 
A - Turn the music up loud so they can't hear each other.  This especially works well with dawdlers from the class before yours.  Probably not appropriate for yoga class...
B - Turn up the intensity.  If you are teaching an athletic training class, then lead them through a particularly tough drill.  If you are teaching yoga, put them in chair pose and have them hold for 4 or 5 deep breaths.

Make a joke - I was taking a spin class today and two men were holding a conversation.  The instructor looked at them chatting away and said 'Alright if you are still talking then you aren't working hard enough.'  Then she smiled really big and the whole class laughed and had a great time.  And guess what - not a peep out of those two for the rest of class.  A lot of times I like to say 'Don't make me separate you two' - but this does not go over well with women.  It's a little condescending, even with the big smile at the end.  Everyone has their own style, but whatever you say deliver it with a big smile at the end.  Then let the class hoop and hollar a little - like a team would do.

Address it head on - For a really chronic problem try talking to them outside of class.  Let them know how it makes the other participants feel.  Tell them that they are cheating themselves and detracting from the effectiveness of the class.

Chances are your talkers don't realize how damaging their conversation is.  But you have to address it.  Try these non-confrontational methods first.  Don't be afraid to be in control of your classroom - your participants will appreciate it in the end.

Written by Kelly Coulter