Using Different Methods in Teaching Mixed Ability Classes

Abstract

The main purpose of the present article is to offer a method of teaching English  in classes of mixed ability groups. The method which has drawn from my own teaching experience stresses on a simultaneous focus on both syntagmatic and paradigmatic relations of language. While memorizing long lists of new words and teaching grammatical rule are considered boring, it is inevitable for learners to deal with both. There is a lot to be learned in a limited period of time by learners. To ease the problem, reading texts are divided into syntagms of phrasal level. As a pre-reading activity, students are given lists of the syntagms with their meaning in their native language. Employing native language helps create a friendly atmosphere in which students can experience self-esteem while dealing with language of the other. The list is to be reviewed and, to some extent, memorized in a session so that no one would have any problem in pronunciation and grammatical relations within segments. It is a truth that human subject is the center of all linguistic activities. Here, teacher’s personality plays a crucial role.