Teaching ESL in a Multilevel Classroom

Teaching in a Multilevel Classroomchallenges and opportunities

Mixed abilities can be a challenge for teachers- why?

Contentsi. Objectives for multilevel teachersii. Learning stylesiii. Bloom’s taxonomy iv. Content and language integration v. Learning skillsvi. Scaffoldingvii. Quiz!

Objectives for teachers1. Observe and plan2. Provide choices3. Challenge students4. Be flexible5. Teach skills

What is your learning style?

Learning styles● Visual ● Auditory ● Kinaesthetic● Tactile

● Left-brain ● Right-brain

“If you vary the activities that you use in your lessons, you are sure to cater for learners with different learning styles at least some of the time.”

Bloom’s (revised) taxonomy● A framework for learning objectives● Emphasis on learning skills● Revised by Anderson (2000)● Arranged in hierarchical structure:

○ Lower-order thinking ○ Higher-order thinking

Lower-order thinking:● RememberingRecalling information

● UnderstandingExplaining ideas or concepts

● ApplyingUsing information in another familiar situation

Higher-order thinking:● AnalyzingBreaking information into parts to explore understandings and relationships

● EvaluatingJustifying a decision or course of action● CreatingGenerating new ideas, products, or ways of viewing things

Content and Language Integrated Learning (CLIL)● A course in which content is learned

through a second (foreign) language ● Four aims:

CLIL in the European Union● Legislation exists to promote innovative

methods for second (and third!) language acquisition within member states

● A resource center focused solely on CLIL is funded by the EU’s Lifelong Learning Programme

Why is CLIL so popular? Students acquire:- Basic language skills- Communication skills- Cognitive skills - Learning skills

Students benefit from:- Access to new ideas across broader subjects- Self-confidence- More challenging materials

Further reading and resources:British Council Teaching English CLIL

One Stop English members’ website

Council of Europe project website

What are some advantages of teaching learning skills (or study habits) in the classroom?

Will students also benefit outside of the classroom?

Examples of learning skills:Organization of work

Making draftsNote-taking

ReviewingAnalytical and creative thinking

Editing and proofreading

Examples of learning skills:Summarizing

Processing and using knowledgeGuessing from context

Recording resultsInvestigating

ScanningSkimming

Scaffolding for differentiation

helps students in their efforts to complete tasks and solve problems

Examples- Share a visual aid before the lesson starts- Demonstrate use of language resources- Provide graphic organizers- Write up language frames on the board- Break complex tasks down into smaller steps- Give constructive feedback

And now… a quiz!

1. Which two learning styles prefer verbal instructions for tasks?

2. What are the three lower-order thinking skills in Bloom’s taxonomy?

3. Open-ended question: provide some constructive feedback for a student who knows most of the right answers but feels too shy to speak up in class.

Thanks for your attention!Sophia Kleinsasser, Bulgarian Fulbright English Teaching Assistant 2010-2012