How do you encourage student creativity in large classes with L1 interference?

A discussion in Teaching English in Indonesia on the SpeakWise Indonesia teacher forum.

We've been thinking about the challenges of fostering creativity in our classrooms, especially when faced with large class sizes and the influence of our students' first language. How can we create an environment that encourages innovative thinking and self-expression despite these obstacles? We'd love to hear your personal experiences and strategies for nurturing student creativity under these conditions—let's learn from one another!