

The beauty of games is that they are generally excellent for encouraging meaningful interaction between students even with very different levels of English. Games are, of course, the ultimate ESL multilevel activity. Peer editing allows students to look at each other’s work and make corrections and comments.

Students can discuss content as well as grammar and punctuation. Peer editing is then the last step before writing the final draft. Advanced ESL students can write longer and more complex texts than their classmates. Students can prepare rough drafts independently. Similarly, peer editing allows students to look at each other’s work and make corrections and comments at their levels. However, interestingly, having lower-level students monitor higher-level students often helps the latter become aware of fossilized errors they make. Higher-level students can monitor lower-level students, which is beneficial to both parties. Do model this for the group first, but with adults, it is often straightforward since it is similar to studying together outside of class. This mixed ability activity involves one student reading and the “buddy” helping the reader with pronunciation. The buddy also asks questions to check comprehension.īuddy reading involves one student reading and the “buddy” helping the reader with pronunciation. Buddy reading involves one student reading and the “buddy” helping ensure that the reader pronounces the words correctly. For example, students pair up for buddy writing and reading. ESL Multilevel Activity 1 – Buddy Reading

In addition to acting, advanced students can create scripts and attribute roles to increase their involvement and motivation. Give lead roles to the more advanced students. Once you know your students, it is easy to frame your discussions to address harder questions to your more advanced students.ĭrama is an ideal multilevel activity that lends itself well to small groups. You can often split your time and efforts effectively between the individual students for a small class. For example, small classes of 3 – 9 students generally lend themselves to different approaches than classes of 15 or 20 students. In deciding on a plan for ESL multilevel activities, consider the number of students and the range of levels. In addition, there are strategies and activities that work across various levels. However, the good news is that there are ways to help all students progress, however disparate their levels. Obviously, ESL multilevel activities can be a planning nightmare and extra work for the ESL teacher. By an ESL multilevel class, we mean one where the students are so far apart in language skills that they cannot all work on the same game or activity. All ESL classes need multilevel activities to a degree, but students are generally close enough to benefit from the same task.
