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Brighton Blade · Joined: 12 Oct 2010 Posts: 16

Hello all,

I have just acquired some hours teaching for a media comany. 2x2 our classes a week. They haven't had an English teacher at the company before and this is my first ESP group. I have just had an informal discussion with a lot of the soon to be students and realised that I am dealing with a very mixed group of learners. All over eighteen and all of the same nationality. Has anyone had any previous experience teaching mixed ability classes? How would you go about structuring your lesson? Can you point me in the direction of any webpages that are worth reading?

all my thanks in advance. I couldn't find a thread on a similar subject so apologies if this subject has already been discussed recently.

nomad soul · Joined: 31 Jan 2010 Posts: 11454 Location: The real world

It would help to have more information, such as:
- What specific content or discipline of ESP will you teach?
- What's the objective?
- Are you the content expert or will you be paired with someone who is?
- Will you be teaching established ESP curriculum or will you design the course and materials yourself?
- How many students will you have for the course and what are their proficiency levels? (ESP is mostly geared toward intermediate to advanced students.)

Teacher in Rome · Joined: 09 Jul 2003 Posts: 1286

I did a course like this recently (though students were from different industries / mix of artisans / people with their own businesses as well). The course itself went really well - it helped that the students got on well with each other, liked working together, and found plenty in common. This is what I did (for an 80 hour course, generally split into 3-hour sessions):

- divided the 3 hours into two halves, with one half dedicated to personal study. (I gave students grammar / vocab worksheets aimed at their level, and went round helping students)

- the other 90 minutes we spent on business communication type subjects (though of course you could do more co-specific ESP).

Either in small groups according to level, in pairs, or alone, students worked on writing / speaking / telephoning tasks.

For the beginners among them, we concentrated on language chunks (i.e. standard phrases) that students could use in letters / emails etc. I used a lot from Email English (photocopiable version) and other bits and pieces of material I have, such as telephone jigsaws, letter jigsaws, speaking functions and tasks, etc.

Glenski · Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Posts: 12844 Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN

Do your best to not teach a mixed ability group. If the company insists, forewarn them it will be slow going, and everyone will have problems.

For textbooks, see Natalie Hess's text.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/0521667852?tag=wwwbusinessta-21&camp=1406&creative=6394&linkCode=as1&creativeASIN=0521667852&adid=04A5C6CRT88VBGSA217P&

Teacher in Rome · Joined: 09 Jul 2003 Posts: 1286

maria1001 · Joined: 25 May 2010 Posts: 28

Teacher in Rome - where did you find a photocopiable version of Email English? I'd also be interested in where you located telephone jigsaws. Thanks!

Teacher in Rome · Joined: 09 Jul 2003 Posts: 1286

For Email English:

http://www.businessenglishonline.net/resources/email-english-worksheets

The telephoning jigsaw is ancient - I think I found it in one of Cambridge's resource books (also photocopiable!) It never fails - ever - and students love doing the puzzle (just don't tell them what the puzzle is...)

maria1001 · Joined: 25 May 2010 Posts: 28

Thanks Teacher in Rome Very Happy

Glenski · Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Posts: 12844 Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN

Disagree if you like, but most people will tell you that one of the hardest types of classes to teach is a mixed level one. On top of that, if it is a company course, there might be social problems in it, with bosses and underlings. I once taught a company group, where the secretary, salesmen, office men, and boss were all in one group. The boss was the weakest one, and he bowed out because of his poor ability, sending me an email to explain that profusely. It's not good to show up the boss.

Company courses also have the problem with student schedules in their job. They may be traveling or have to work OT, etc. and thereby miss classes. At least if they are in the same level, it minimizes the damage.

kazpat · Joined: 04 Jul 2010 Posts: 140 Location: Kazakhstan

I taught a group of mixed level Air Traffic Controllers who were preparing for an ICAO test. It was not bad as we dealt with mostly vocabulary and standard industry phraseology. We had a clear goal and I designed each module. So I second all of Nomad Soul's questions.

This summer I am teaching mixed level grammar classes which are seminar in nature. A grammar topic is offered and learners come just for 3 hours to focus on that topic such as "Present Tenses". There is no continuity in the group as there are different students each time. It is an absolute nightmare. Easily the hardest thing I have ever been asked to do. At different stages some students are completely bored and at others some are completely confused.

My Director told me to sit the advanced students with the ones that are struggling so they can help them. Well, if I paid for a class I would be peeved that I was made to be a tutor.

Glenski · Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Posts: 12844 Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN

Teacher in Rome · Joined: 09 Jul 2003 Posts: 1286

Brighton Blade · Joined: 12 Oct 2010 Posts: 16

Brighton Blade · Joined: 12 Oct 2010 Posts: 16

Thanks you all for the help so far. Any frurther response will be equally welcomed.

nomad soul · Joined: 31 Jan 2010 Posts: 11454 Location: The real world

Thanks for providing more info, Brighton Blade. Splitting the group is an excellent idea; you'll have a smaller, more manageable class to work with, and your students will get more individual attention. You may also find that your lower-level students need general English lessons just to get the basics down.

It sounds like the objective is more on business communication in everyday situations than on the typical business English course. Business communication usually addresses customer service skills, writing emails, interpersonal and intercultural communications, conducting meetings, interviewing, socializing in business situations, etc., whereas Business English tends to introduce learners to marketing strategies, business proposals, current business trends, case studies on specific businesses, and so on. Both of these business English contexts include grammar and writing components and may overlap in terms of content. However, you mention that your students are over 18, so I assume some may not have umpteen years of work experience and would best benefit from a business communication-focused course.

In terms of books, I've used Business Result for an upper-intermediate level class of working professionals and found it a bit stuffy. It wasn't my students' favorite series either, so I incorporated material from other sources. If you have to use this series, I would suggest not sticking with it as the sole source for your program. You may have to mix-n-match from different books and from Internet sites geared toward business English. Just google "business english"; there are plenty of useful Web sites on this subject. For some challenging but interesting critical thinking exercises, search for "ethical dilemmas business" on the Internet. Lastly, the book Five-Minute Activities for Business English is a good resource, if you can get it.

I'm sure others in this forum will have some input for you as well.