Teaching a mixed-ability Class By Gamal Rabeea

What is a mixed-ability class? Mixed-ability refers to: 1- classes in which there is a very clear difference in language level among the students. 2- classes in which there are clear differences in learning style, speed and aptitude among the students.

3- classes in which there are clear differences in the students’ background knowledge. 4- classes in which there are different levels of motivation.

Why does the problem exist? 1- Students come from different learning backgrounds. For example, some may have attended private language schools for extra English. They may have used different coursebooks.

2- Students progress at different rates. It is due to different learning styles and the way students respond to the teacher’s style and approach. If the teacher’s approaches tended to emphasize the visual element, then it is likely that the visual learners will have progressed at a faster rate.

3- Some students find learning a second language easy and some find it difficult. This includes things like the ability to: … notice similarities and differences in meanings and language forms. … memories and recall new verbal information.

4- Students may already have a positive or negative attitude. This depends on how successful they have been or how they have been treated.

5- There may be other influences e.g. they may have: … English-speaking family … travelled to English-speaking countries … satellite TV, DVDs or computers with English programs at home … personal interests such as a love of American pop music … an English-speaking pen friend

6-There may be students who experience learning difficulties due to dyslexia, hearing or sight problems.

What to do to know your students? 1 How long have you studied English? . . . 2 How do you like to learn best? with your eyes? [ ] with your ears? [ ] by doing things? [ ] 3 Did you like your English classes? Why or why not? 4 Do you think English is: useful? [ ] interesting? [ ] fun? [ ]

5 What's your English like 5 What's your English like? very good [ ] OK [ ] not very good [ ] terrible [ ] 6 Do you ever listen to, read, or speak English outside school? What for? . . . .

What problems do mixed-ability classes present for the teacher? 1-Half the students have finished an exercise when the other half have only just begun. 2-The stronger students get bored if I spend time explaining to the weaker ones. 3-We’ve got a syllabus to get through but most of the students are already behind. 4-The stronger students dominate.

5-The weaker students sit at the back and start disrupting the lesson. 6-The weaker students don’t even try. 7-I don’t know where to pitch my lesson. 8-The weaker students are always asking me things in their own language and want everything explained in it.

9-Some of the weaker students try so hard but they still get bad marks 9-Some of the weaker students try so hard but they still get bad marks. 10-When I’m doing pair or groupwork I don’t know whether it’s better to put strong and weak students together or put students of the same level in the groups.

11-Some of the students’ written homework is an absolute disaster – grammar, spelling, everything! I don’t know where to start correcting it. 12-Some of the really good students sometimes ask me difficult questions and one even corrected me once!

How can we deal with mixed-ability classes? Part A

We will look at ways of changing, i. e We will look at ways of changing, i.e. ways of trying to ensure that all students have equal opportunities to learn. This means improving opportunities for weaker learners. It will focus on the following aspects of changing:

Classroom management skills Motivating students Catering for different learning styles Learner training

Part B we look at ways of coping, i.e. practical techniques and teaching ideas suitable for a mixed-ability class, linked to the specific problem of mixed levels and learning speeds in one class but also different knowledge of the world and interests. The following areas are covered:

Grading tasks Self access Content teaching Activities with different responses Open-ended activities Dealing with different learning speeds Assessment

Solving the problems

What is a mixed-ability class? Why does the problem exist? What to do to know your students? What problems do mixed-ability classes present for the teacher? How can we deal with mixed-ability classes? Solving the problems

For more information The Mixed Ability Class by Julie Tice https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qjzFJAJZF7U https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fhiYY0uIkJU https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3x7NdXTbbmM https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pBUpevrNuL8 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=flQeT3QjuIE https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AlGvCJ4CitU

(And taught you that which you knew not (And taught you that which you knew not. The grace of Allah toward you has been infinite) (وَعَلَّمَكَ مَا لَمْ تَكُن تَعْلَمُ ۚ وَكَانَ فَضْلُ اللَّهِ عَلَيْكَ عَظِيمًا)