UNIT 31 GROUPING LEARNERS

We can let students sometimes to work in pairs, groups of three or four people and even large groups according to the number of students we have. We have to remember that if we do this kind of opportunities, we will have to mix the weaker students with the best ones, in that way they will learn from each other and in the end we will have good developed outcomes.

Roles given to each group will help managing the different tasks that students may have at the moment grouping. A teacher never has to put pressure on their students; we just have to monitor their activities letting the class flow go until they have finish.

There are different ways in which we can organize our learners in the classroom. For example, learners can work on their own, as a whole class, in pairs, in teams, in groups. Organizing learners into different working patterns is what we mean by “grouping learners”.

Whole class activities enable students to practice the language at the same time; these help students increasing their  confidence, especially among shy or weaker learners.

Individual activities give students the opportunity to work at their own pace and to focus and organize their thoughts.

Pair and group activities supply students with opportunities for emerging longer turns and fluency through interaction.

Source: Spratt, M., Pulverness, A., & Williams, M. (2011). The Teachink Knowledge Tests Course . United Kingdom: Cambridge University Press.