Basically, EFL students should pass a reliable placement test before being assigned to different classes. However, sometimes, specially at the university contexts, EFL teachers have to teach classes having heterogeneous students. Based on your experience and expertise, what are the best techniques and strategies to teach speaking in such classes, especially to adult students at the university context?
This can be quite challenging. Especially in group discussions. But as the facilitator, you can pair students appropriately, so that the stronger ones help the weaker ones, and this, in turn, helps the stronger ones gain a deeper understanding of what it is they are learning. Moreover, in my experience, the key is to ensure that no one dominates and that everyone gets equal time and encouragement, which also means that you shouldn't single anyone out for special treatment.
Readers Theatre. Build a classroom community of focus, trust, and curiosity; determine a theme; and guide them to work in collaborative groups to adapt pertinent literature (fiction and non-fiction) to script form. This work could culminate in a presentation or, as my community college ESL students are sharing with a few guests next week, a reading circle and discussion. Not only are there opportunities to constructively correct and practice pronunciation, the discussions tend to encourage critical thinking, engagement, and speaking confidence.
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