How do you navigate challenges in large classes while fostering genuine communication in English?

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

We've been thinking about the unique hurdles we face in Indonesia's vast classrooms, where student engagement often takes a backseat due to sheer numbers. Many of us often find ourselves balancing L1 interference with the urgency of meeting curriculum demands, which can stifle authentic conversation. We’d love to hear how you've approached this challenge—what strategies have you found effective in creating meaningful interactions among students despite these pressures?