Possible ways to teach mixed-ability classes

As I said earlier that one useful strategy is to try to divide students into separate classrooms
based on their age groups and abilities but since most language schools can’t afford to do so for
logistical/ financial reasons, there are some other things that teachers can do to manage such
classes.

This problem is perhaps most common in Beginner classes. By advanced classes, most students
will possess a similar core knowledge of English. But in a beginner class, some students will
have never studied the language, while others might have spoken English at home or with
friends. 

Here are some possible strategies that you could adopt when you are teaching a mixed ability
class due to different age groups or educational backgrounds.

1. Use strategic seating

Since you can’t be everywhere at once, have your students help one another by placing them in
an effective seating arrangement.

 Buddy system

Seat the advanced student next to the beginner. This way, the advanced student will be able
to help the beginner. By forming these pairs, you’ll be able to include more challenging
material in each lesson because your students can help each other.

The advanced student will learn more too by having to explain what they know to the
beginner. If you have some students who are at an intermediate level, seat them together.
You can’t individually help each student throughout the lesson, but your students can help
each other so that everyone understands the material.

 Mixed-level groups

You could also place students in a small group of four or five. In each group, you can have at
least one advanced student and at least one beginner. By mixing the levels in these groups,
students will be able to rely upon each other.
 This is especially effective in a large class. Students can ask members of their group
questions and try to solve problems together. You can then divide your time between five or
six groups rather than trying to bounce around and help 30+ students.

 Same-level groups
You can divide your students into groups by their English level. You could simply do
beginner, intermediate or advanced based on your assessment of your students’ ability levels.

TESOL, Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages, divides students into five

2. Provide multiple levels of each activity

Even if you’re teaching from a specific book or workbook, there are always ways to expand an
assignment to challenge the students who need it.

Beginner: Start any assignment with the lowest level student in mind. If your class includes a
few students who don’t know any English, then make sure your assignment starts at a beginner
level so that they can learn the basics.
Perhaps your book has a lesson on basic conversation. This is useful information that every
English speaker must know. They have to know “hello” and “goodbye” before they can discuss
business negotiations! Don’t skip these basics just because some students will be bored; instead,
expand these basics for those at a higher level.

Intermediate: After covering the basics, make the assignment a bit more difficult for students at
the next level. Any student who already knows basic conversation can do something more
challenging than the original assignment.

Teach them a few colloquialisms to complement the basics. Have them write down at least 3
ways of saying any basic conversational term. For example, “How are you?” can also be “How’s
it going?” or “What’s up?” or “What’s going on?” or “What’s new?” To motivate students, you
can even offer extra credit to those who complete the more difficult assignment.

Advanced: To challenge this group, you can make the assignment even harder. If they already
know basic conversation and colloquialisms, have them write a conversational script for a certain
scenario that you will give them. For example, you could have two advanced students write a
script that shows business colleagues greeting one another and making small talk outside of
work. This will challenge them and teach them a specific conversational tone.

You could even have them perform the skit for you to practice their pronunciation! By taking
one assignment and adding onto it, you can ensure that the basics are taught and more advanced
students are appropriately challenged.

3. Play games

Games are a great way to involve all levels of English learners. Even a game geared towards
beginners can give advanced students a chance to practice speaking and listening. Plus, all
students are more likely to learn when they’re having fun!

Pick teams

Choose teams strategically. Make sure that one team doesn’t have all of the advanced students
while another team has mostly beginners. Everyone will be challenged and included when the
teams are mixed.

You could let students choose teams too by selecting team captains and having them alternate
picking teammates. The teams will likely be mixed because advanced students will probably be
chosen first and then beginners, so each team will get some of each level of student.

Active participation

Games help students learn by requiring active participation. You could even offer an award for
the winners, like a point of extra credit. This will encourage a competitive spirit so that everyone
is motivated to participate. It’s this participation that is helpful to all levels of English learners.

Choose a game that requires speaking so that students get to practice, such as “I Spy” if you’re
teaching colors. To get more participation, you can choose games that can be played in pairs or
small groups, such as “Twenty Questions,” so that each student is sure to get a turn.

Have fun

When you choose a game that your students enjoy, even if it isn’t the most challenging for your
advanced students, they’ll still have fun and practice English. Enjoyment is a powerful motivator
for learning! The chance to do something a bit goofy or competitive will make your students
want to practice English. It is this practice that will make all levels of learners more comfortable
with new vocabulary and grammatical constructs.
4. Give personal attention

While students are working on an assignment, make sure to go around and interact with your
students. Take a look at their work to make sure the beginners are understanding it, and use the
opportunity to challenge more advanced students.

Reach out to beginners

These students will need the most help! Make them a priority when going around the room.
While your communication may be limited, take a look at their assignment and see if they’re
understanding it. If not, go over the information with them again and try to show them what
you’re looking for.

If several beginners are struggling with a worksheet, invite them over to your desk and do a few
exercises with them. This will help you to make sure that no one is lost.

Challenge advanced students

Once you’re confident that your beginners understand the assignment, visit the more advanced
students and try to challenge them further. You can ask them some harder questions or ask them
why they chose a specific answer or give them another scenario to try.

If they’re breezing through an assignment, you can give them a special challenge question for
when they have finished. You can even have them ask you something that they’re unsure about
and give them an extra assignment about that topic. This will help ensure that no one is bored.

Give additional opportunities

You can only do so much during one class period. If you get the sense that some students are still
either lost or bored, offer to meet in the classroom after school. You could even start an English
club to further challenge your students.

Besides helping with your current lesson, you could do some special activities like going over
the lyrics to popular music or watching a TV show with subtitles. After school English clubs or
extra help sessions are a great way to challenge those who want to learn more.