Are you looking for tips on how to teach a multilevel ESL class?
Multilevel classes are very common in adult ESL programs. Oftentimes programs will only have a few students in each level, so students will be grouped together in one class.
As a teacher, you want to reach every learner and help them improve. This can be very challenging if you are working with students with many different proficiency levels in one class!
I’ve been in this situation countless times over my career. Here are some helpful tips for teaching multilevel ESL classes.
5 Tips for Teaching a Multilevel ESL Class
1. Differentiate
Differentiation means tailoring instruction to meet the needs of different learners. While keeping the overall lesson topic and learning objectives in mind, teachers can modify lesson tasks for different proficiency levels. This does require some extra work, but I think it is well worth it. Here are some examples of differentiating tasks:
A. Example Writing Task: Compare and contrast two food items.
– Beginners: Have them create a T-chart with two columns and write words to describe each food item. They don’t have to write full sentences. Another option is to have them use a Venn diagram for comparing and contrasting.
– Intermediate: Give them sentence frames for comparing and contrasting, and then they can write their own sentences using this scaffolding.
– Advanced: Have them write a paragraph comparing and contrasting two food items. Option to have them include their opinion about which one is better.
B. Example Listening Task: Listen to a news report and answer comprehension questions.
– Beginners: Give them the transcript of the news report to read along as they listen.
– Intermediate: Give them the transcript of the news report with some information missing. They fill in the missing information as they read.
– Advanced: Don’t provide a transcript but encourage them to take notes as they listen.
2. Do Open-Ended Tasks
Open-ended tasks allow for student choice about what to produce and can help lower anxiety. One of my favorite ideas is to display a photo (related to the current unit or theme) and have students write about it. They can simply describe what is happening in the photo, or they can write a story about it. Beginners can write just words or phrases, intermediate students can write a few sentences, and advanced students can write paragraphs. Afterwards, students can mix together and share what they’ve written.
3. Implement an Extensive Reading Program
Extensive reading is such a good way for students to improve their English reading skills at any proficiency level. The goal is for students to choose their own reading material that is at or just above their reading level, to read frequently (at least 30 minutes a day), and to track their pages read. You can build this into your weekly class routine. Have students read for 30 minutes in class (the teacher should read, too!) and then have them complete a worksheet about what they read or put them into groups to discuss what they read.
The main hurdle for implementing an extensive reading program is finding reading materials. Ideally, you will want to build up a library of leveled readers that students can choose from (check out eltbooks.com). Another option would be to have them read passages online from Readworks.org.
Here is a great resource to get you started with extensive reading in your class: Extensive Reading Activities and Worksheet
4. Get Volunteers
Get some volunteers in your class! You’ll need to vet them, of course, to make sure they are quality volunteers. You might luck out and get some volunteers who have previous teaching experience or training. Currently, I have two retired teachers volunteering in my class! They are awesome.
It is important to meet with volunteers beforehand and set expectations for how you’d like them to work with your students. Do you want them to work with the beginners only, or do you want them to circulate and address student questions as they arise? Either way, the extra help is very beneficial, and your students will enjoy interacting with another native or near-native English speaker.
5. Use Anchor Charts
If you teach in the same classroom each day, put up some anchor charts or posters with basic English grammar rules so that students can glance up at them when they need some help. For example, put up verb conjugations in the simple present, present progressive, or simple past. You could put up an anchor chart with prepositions of time and place.
If you can’t post these charts on your classroom wall, give them as handouts to students so they can put them in their binders and refer to them when needed. I like to print these on brightly colored paper for easy access.
Multilevel classes are a reality for most ESL teachers. Try out some of these tips to make your life a little easier and to help all students in your multilevel class!