Teach English in Haxby - TESOL Courses

Classes of mixed abilitiesA class with students of varying abilities keeps teachers on their toes, regardless of the subject, students, or structure of classes. This issue keeps American educators and government officials as they try to determine what the best course of action for the dilemma that affects the nation?s education system. Though there is no clear-cut solution for this timeless issue, perhaps there is a silver lining to this widely perceived problem in education. The U.S. is in the midst of debates and discussions as they try to figure how to improve the education system and accommodate for all its students, each student with different background and abilities. Naturally, students in any class learn at different speeds and have different interests but this issue came to the foreground with the passing of the No Child Left Behind Act, increasing number of students with spanish-speaking immigrant parents, growing awareness of students with special needs and disabilities, and socio-economically stratified school districts. Though these issues seem particularly to the U.S. at first glance, students across the world all have different backgrounds and inherently diverse interests and abilities. An individual teacher working with a class of mixed ability however should not try to fix the issues contributing to the different abilities and backgrounds of students but instead focus on creating a curriculum that can accommodate but also challenge students. One important thing that a teacher should keep in mind is to not get frustrated with the student; the student is also probably well-aware of the difference in his or her ability and would benefit more from positive support. Though it is hard to find a happy median in a diverse class, the teacher should to try to aim for the median level or speed that the majority of students operate on and make individual adjustments for students that are excelling or behind. For instance, a stronger students can be partnered up with a weaker student in a group activity; of course, the teacher should monitor the interaction between students to make sure that the stronger student does not dominate the activity and that the weaker student makes an effort to learn. Another approach the teacher can take is to work closely with students that are ahead or behind outside class. The teacher can also assign supplementary assignments to students that would benefit from them. Though it is not completely fair for weaker students to get more attention or to get assigned extra work, it would be extremely unfair to hold the rest of the class back. The way to handle classes with students of mixed abilities is thorny and there is no real right answer but in the way that teachers should try to stay positive, the whole issue of classes of mixed abilities could perhaps be perceived in a more constructive light. One of the vital responsibilities of a teacher is to support students in their individual quests to gain knowledge. In addition to the common methods of teaching, educators should also try to be creative and help as many students in their class reach the objectives of the course as reach their full potential. Furthermore, learning does not need to be a solitary activity; by being with othererse classmates, a student can not only feel comfortable with his or her own strengths and capabilities but also strive to be a better student. With the combined efforts of the teacher and classmates, teaching and learning in a class of mixed abilities can become less of a challenge. Undoubtedly, teaching a class with students of varying capabilities presents a hurdle for teachers and can be very hard to manage but if students and teachers can both grow in the process, perhaps classes with mixed abilities is not as difficult an issue as it is perceived to be. The diversity that students bring with them to class is an inevitable event. Though it is important for society to address issues underlying those differences, as the U.S. is currently trying to do, diversity in the classroom can be interpreted as a challenge and as a sign of the growing importance of education.