Job Discussion Forums

[moonraven]

I have had kids work in teams to give presentations when some had very high levels and others had virtually no English and the rest were somewhere in between those two poles.

The presentations seemed to help the ones who had virtually no English to determine what they could contribute to the team efort, and little by little they gained confidence at being able to get up in front of the group and present a little bit of information in English.

I have found that helps to motivate kids, because the focus is on building effective teams--and it helps that this teacher gives the ones with low English levels a lot of encouragement to participate.

Motivation is the single most important factor in learning, after all.

(PS: I need to clarify that I have taught mixed level classes in elementary schools, junior high schools, high schools and universities--never in a language school.)

[maszia]

Hi Dajiang et al. Thanks. This is all really useful stuff. I'll definitely start trying to implement some of it when I start back on Monday.
By the way, maybe I should add that not all my classes are mixed age, mixed ability, just this one. It's the exception not the rule in my school. All my other classes are roughly the same age and ability, and I have no problems with any of them. (Although the Mother and Baby classes have me somewhat mystified. Babies learning English?)