teaching a mixed level class

giancaldo · Post by **giancaldo** » Sun Jul 09, 2006 2:12 am

i have to teach my korean co-workers English at the school where I work. there are around 20 of them, possibly more next week. Some are fairly proficient, around seven of them, while others only have a very basic vocabulary and struggle to understand anything I say. i'm supposed to use 'side by side book 1', but it's really too basic for the more advanced students.
Anyone have any ideas on tackling this problem?

winterlynx1 · Post by **winterlynx1** » Sun Jul 09, 2006 6:06 am

I'd suggest you use the more proficient speakers as "teachers aids." They will learn alot from helping you teach English, and the less able students will benefit from the increased number of "instructors" in the class. People often make the comment that they never learn so much as when they teach a subject, so give the better speakers that opportunity.

giancaldo · Post by **giancaldo** » Mon Jul 10, 2006 3:49 am

I talked to one of the other teachers but she said that wouldn't be the best idea as the weaker students tend to be much older and that's pretty much a no go in this country. I'm in a public school in Korea by the way. So I guess I'll just have to do two seperate lessons in one class. Hopefully, I can get the class split and put into two seperate times. Thanks anyway.

carlagoncalves · Post by **carlagoncalves** » Mon Jul 17, 2006 4:24 pm

I'm working in a public school in Portugal. I've four items to teach and discuss in a mixed level class. I usually divide the class into four groups. Each group does a different activity. The group activities are graded from the easiest to the most complex one according to their levels.
Is this the best / efficient way of learning / teaching English ?

rusmeister · Post by **rusmeister** » Tue Jul 18, 2006 6:33 am

The main problem, in addition to age differences is that unless the level difference is small, using advanced students to teach beginners is exactly that - using them, mostly to their detrement. When the difference is small that is a very valid point, of course. It does reinforce learning. But if you are a student in 3rd year, say, Russian or Italian, do you really want to spend most of your time retreading first year concepts in the name of reinforcement?

When you are politically forced to teach mixed levels together by an employer, I think Carlagon's approach is about as good as you can do, but it makes a LOT of work for the teacher. How much work are you willing to do to prep for a one or one-and-a-half hour class?