Understanding that students work at different speeds and energy levels.

  • Allow students time to think about tasks

You can do this by setting up student-centred activities where students work in small groups. This means they are not all competing to respond to your questions.

You may set them a writing task in response to a reading or listening text and they work together, helping each other in a less stressful manner.

For example, they could listen to the Beatles’ song – She’s leaving home. Ask them to write the note that the girl leaves her parents or the dialogue the parents have once they discover their daughter has gone.

If groups are mixed (less and more able students together) peer teaching can take place, with students helping each other by explaining language points in mother tongue, explaining vocabulary. You may be surprised at who helps who.

 

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Teenagers: Teaching mixed-ability teens