3453. Every Student as Somebody Different


Second or foreign language teaching is one of the school subjects where we teachers can find most varied levels within a classroom. 

Coming to the root of the point every student has his or her own different level of English or the taught language. 

Although we may try to place each student at his or her specific and precise level and class, in any class we teach we will likely find varied and various levels. 

And the high-performing students ought not to get bored. And the low-performing students ought not to be left behind. And every student has his or her own experience at learning and acquiring the language. What to do? 

The answer is not simple. Something I do is trying to combine different leveled activities in the classroom but the solution is not accurate and definitive sometimes. Well, we can try that, trying also to get feedback from the students: Are they understanding me their teacher? 

As well something else we can do is getting high-performers to monitor in some way their classmates that can reach less. Sometimes students talking in English to their classmates can be clearer than my own speaking in English! 

Last but not least: The main point is for all the students in a classroom to be somehow comfortable and happy. Something else I implement is thanking my students at the end of the lesson, for their attention, hard work and contributions: this is highly motivating and we always have something to praise from our students… / Photo from: Core_Skills_For_Swimming_Learn_to_Swim Swimming org

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