The nature of a LANGUAGE classroom is different from a other classes as our focus is COMMUNICATION in Spanish. Students hear and react to Spanish in a variety of contexts so that they develop an ear for the language. Students are active participants in my class, listening and speaking in addition to reading and writing. The students frequently move around in class, and chairs allow them to do so freely (click for article about movement by Dr. Krashen)!!!! Additionally, the chairs facing in helps our class to feel like a community!
Writing surfaces are still useful which is why I have a class set of clipboards and 4 fold-up tables that I acquired through generous donors and Donor's Choose! Students who feel more comfortable having a traditional writing surface have access to these tables. Additionally, during the DPS Proficiency Assessments, I allow students to decide where they would like to sit. This allows students to choose differentiated spaces to do their work, which I believe puts the responsibility and power in the hands of the students.
Please let me know if you have any questions!