Teach English in Mashi Zhen - Yongzhou Shi

It is well known that the population of students in the same class is usually heterogeneous. In other words, all students have different learning abilities, talents, intelligence, interests, and maturity level. A teacher’s task is to understand how to help each student to learn best. Educators use various teaching techniques, methods and tools to reach students’ needs. There are different ways to teach the classes with mixed learning abilities and among them are the strategies that work well in the multilevel classes. To start with, a teacher needs to determine students’ language level. To assess the students, the teacher could use both formal and informal test that will show each student’s language level. The same age class might have a wide range of academic levels. For example, some students might have very good fluency and accuracy and at the same time, have low comprehension whereas other students may not be able to read. Moreover, there might be some bright students in the same class who can grasp the new material easily. What should also be taken into account is that each person learns the new concept in a different way: some move around the classroom while learning the new vocabulary, others need to sit at one place and complete the assignment step by step. Knowing each type of student and identifying their academic skills, potential problems and needs can help the teacher to design the curriculum and plan lessons accordingly. The next thing the teacher needs to take into account is the usage of differentiated instructions in a mixed-ability class. It means that even if the whole class studies the same material, each group of students (formed according to the students’ language level) receives separate instructions and level-specific material based on their needs and abilities. For instance, when teaching Irregular verbs, an educator explains the content to the whole class first, then groups the students based on their language level. An Advanced level group gets a card with a text in present tense, and the students’ task is to put all the irregular verbs in the correct past form; an Intermediate level group has to complete the sentences choosing the Irregular verbs from the box; and an Elementary level group’s assignment could be to fill in the blanks with irregular verbs in the parenthesis. This way each student should be involved in the learning process, while teacher monitors the whole class and helps the individuals who are still struggling or simply need teacher’s assistance for clarification. Using a variety of instructional strategies and delivery methods in mixed-ability classes as well as grouping students is essential to the learning process since there are a lot of benefits. Actually, the classroom management goes inseparably with differentiated instructions. There are various management systems that educators use broadly in mixed-ability classes including Daily 5, centers, stations, etc. Each station has a certain task and lasts for about 10-15 minutes, depending on the students’ ages (the younger the students, the shorter the time). Students rotate from station to station when the time is over. At one station, for example, students could do some writing assignments, at the other one-listening and reading the text, and so on, including a station with some language games. It is up to the teacher what station to create and how many. These factors are based on students’ learning needs. At all of the stations students should work independently while the teacher meets individual needs of the whole group, a small group or does one-on-one conferencing. This system works productively as in one lesson students use various ways to learn the material under study: through games, movements, audible tasks, writing assignments, etc. While students work on their own at each station, it is very important that they feel comfortable and confident in the classroom. A teacher should create a safe, positive working place for students to receive the teacher’s attention and feedback to ensure better learning. It definitely takes extra preparation for a teacher to plan the curriculum and activities for a mixed-ability class. However, once educators define their students’ learning levels, they can design lesson plans differentiating various learning abilities. Teaching mixed ability classes can be really challenging, but it is definitely possible. Moreover, teaching students with different levels of ability will be an excellent opportunity for teachers to be creative, energetic, and tuned-in to their students’ needs. In the end, both learners and teachers will get an incredible satisfaction and the most rewarding outcomes because teachers can engage every student into the learning process and provide a safe learning environment for students to learn, create, produce, and have fun.