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This unit dealt with troubleshooting common issues that new ESL teachers may face. These include dealing with classes with varying levels of ability, reluctant students, and large classes. A class with varying levels of ability is not necessarily a bad thing; it can be used to the students advantage by pairing weaker students with stronger ones, thus helping instill confidence in the weaker learners. Reluctant students, whose class participation tends to be much less than stronger learners, can be drawn into class participation by using pair work and role play. Large classes can be challenging for a first-time teacher, but there are techniques that can be employed to make the lesson just as impactful: use student group leaders to assist with classroom tasks; using vocal drilling to engage the entire class; and using worksheets to also engage all of the students, and also to give them written record of what they learned in class. Using the students' native language in class is highly discouraged. Students in a monolingual class may use their native language to help other students or to clearly articulate a need or answer to the teacher; the teacher should always respond in English in order to stimulate learning. The information presented in this unit was a good reinforcement/review of earlier topics that were covered (i.e. receptive skills, presenting language to new learners). I have learned in this unit the importance of keeping lessons appropriate to the size and ability of the class, particularly when there are mixed abilities in the class. The variety of teaching methodologies mentioned in this unit, with specific regard to troubleshooting, are also used in many other teaching situations. Said another way, a good knowledge of different teaching methods will set the teacher up for success in any learning environment. I am very glad to have taken this course and I feel I have benefited greatly from it.
