What I often see as a teacher of ESL is that students want to take language classes at a higher level than they are prepared to handle. These students say they just want to try a harder class and will do their best even though the material is difficult. Unfortunately, these same students don't realize that their decision is not just a personal one because it affects everyone involved. The other higher students don't want to work with lower students and wonder why the student was allowed into the class, and the teacher feels obligated to slow down and simplify the content so the lower-level student understands the class, and the other students don't want that either. And in the United States, if the student is on a student visa and fails a class, it can affect their visa status. Thus, what seems like an individual decision really can affect many other people. I strongly suggest that students do the best at the classes at their level, and if they want more study, find a private study partner or small study group to give them more practice. What do you think on this topic?
Randall
Welcome to the ESL blog by the owner of www.esl-lab.com. Share ideas about learning English as a second or foreign language. Study abroad, ESL programs, accent reduction, ESL study Tips . . . Anything related to learning English and cultural understading!
really i agree with you,that's right.students with high level in english must be togethere
ReplyDeleteYes, you're right. And I want to add - if a low-level student can't catch material he lost much more than if he would be in a appropriate level group.
ReplyDeleteI think class needs to be seperated in grade. There is a difference between higher students and lower students to learn something. All learning program are graded like age, gender, build.. and etc. Student's acquirement played a important role to learn something. Some students learn very quickly but others don't. If lower students's learing with others kept on, they are going to be bad little by little. To make lower students not bad, it is necessary for student to make class in grade. Then, students strive to be ahead of others in class and it motivate lower students.
ReplyDeleteIt serve two end.
Hello, Randall!
ReplyDeleteI think what you described is just like what I came across in the gym. I like to take many kinds of sports classes in the gym. Everytime there are new students who haven't taken the classes before. Then the teacher has to slow down her speed to meet all student's ability. Hence, I have to take the classes repeatly and the content becomes easier and easier for me. So I believe it will be more reasonable if there are more than one classes which fit for various levels.
Although the classes in gym and Enligsh Language Center seem different from each other, the theory is the same. So attending suitable classes is important to students and I agree with Randall's idea.
yes..I totally agree with you. class should be divided into the goups with different levels and students ought to take a grade that is appropriate with them. That is also good for themselves and teacher staff as well
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DeleteLearning a language like English opens more opportunities at a professional and personal level.
Learning another language such as English opens more opportunities at a professional and personal level.
ReplyDeleteI think students should take a step at a time and they should suit their level. " Speed is the enemy of perfection".
ReplyDeleteSome aspect here in my country are similar to yours. The difference its that our students are really lazy and they don´t pay attention to their own work, so they had a lot of deficits according the panama bilingual records. Most of the students give up with the second language because they relatives do not speak English, and the bulling of suffer in front of the classmates get them be more unhappy and be rejected the new language. The children on the primary school get the language faster than the high school, so this new generation had a big probability to get the English as a second language in the next generation.
ReplyDeleteMy personal opinion is that the student must adapt to the progress of teaching and in such a way to be a student that excels at the level of learning is important to take into consideration that all his classmates are not equal to him and this way he would avoid the other students do not have the necessary confidence when expressing themselves for fear of being wrong and being the mockery of their peers who are more advanced. That is why it is necessary that each class is adapted to the comprehension of all students.
ReplyDeleteI was one of those students that wanted a bigger challenge and wondered "Why was I placed here with these mortals?" But then I realized that even if you think you know everything, you will learn something new or understand something that you did not have clear, even if it is a basic topic like vocal sounds or so, you need to keep practicing everyday in order to maintain that knowledge clear, more important if you are like me, someone trying to be a teacher/professor in the future. The best solution that I consider applies in this situation, and my case also, is to continue your practice at home, keep doing what you want in a way that gives you that extra effort you are looking for.
ReplyDeleteI would be good that student improve his or her English in order to acquiere and learn a new language therefore it is posible to achieve major advantage learning and applying on studies if the material is dificult of course tha can be hard for hi or her to develop a great goal about it.
ReplyDeleteWell, I think students who want to take an higher level have to take an exam to determine if they are able to course it. However if they reprobate it means that they are not able to be in the same classroom environment because in order to increase other students learning they will be the main problem affecting directly the classroom progess. Sometimes, students do not like to be in the same classsroom that other ones that have a lower level because they feel that they are not progressing. Finally. My conclusion is, that all of us as a human beings are learning new things every day and It is not a good desicion wanting to take a more dificult level, also they are exposed to learn more in the same level that they are.
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion it may seem as though taking difficult or hard courses might not be the best choice for your student. Hard courses take a lot of time and can be stressful for the students. Hard courses may not boost the student’s. But there are some compelling reasons why taking some of those more difficult courses may benefit the student in many important ways. Of course, the student needs to needs to keep his schedule in balance and needs to keep everything in perspective. Taking all difficult courses, or all easy courses, does not make a balanced schedule. And one student’s definition of difficult is another student’s easy course. Knowing his own strengths and learning style is helpful. But with all of this in mind, here are eight reasons why a few difficult courses can benefit your student.
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