TEFL Spring Valley Delaware

Teaching groups can be one of the most rewarding elements of teaching english as a second language. There are both challenges and benefits to having a group of students vs. individual. Groups allow teachers to develop more complex activities, combine classroom knowledge and diversity and to create a more social learning environment. One of the advantages of a group setting is the classroom dynamic that simply cannot be duplicated during individual learning lessons. This dynamic allows students and teachers the ability to interact and communicate continuously in a more social environment. This can be great in terms of activity planning and lessons based around discussions. Often times, there is a great comfort level for students in these environments as well. Teaching in a classroom also allows students to be broken down into sub groups and participate in activities and assignments with their peers. This group work is said to be an integral part of, and the biggest advantage of having more than one student. It is categorized based on their purpose and method of selection. These categories can be broken down into: Informal learning groups, Formal learning groups and Study teams. Informal learning groups are the most common in all classrooms and occur any time discussions are held between students during a lesson. Formal groups are those specifically selected to put together research papers, labs, and reports and are often graded together – including some marks for peer evaluation. When students work together in small groups, there is also a greater chance of peer correction. Having a variety of group work is not the only aspect of a successful classroom setting. teachers must be able to plan appropriate and effective group work for students to participate in with their peers. In fact, one of the aspects of group teaching that is often seen as a downside to students, especially young learners (as taught in Unit 19) is the lack of individual attention they receive. This is an often overlooked aspect of teaching large groups and difficult to master. Students often enjoy the one-one relationships they can develop with their teachers. Another aspect of teaching in groups that must be considered is the need for standardized lesson plans for all fluency levels and individual learning styles. According to several educational sources, the best learning method varies person to person. Their classroom environment can also heavily affect individuals and their learning . Some outlined areas of focus for teachers include: • Structure of lesson – Should follow a logical pattern. A class-aid is helpful for students so that they can follow along (some students pick up at different speeds). • Sociological differences – Some students benefit from group activities and some prefer to work alone. Students must be given an equal opportunity to learn in both settings for greatest success. • Auditory/Visual needs– For those students who are auditory learners, lectures and spoken assignments are often easily picked up. For those who are more visual learners, work sheets and follow-along lessons are a great tool for learning. teachers working in a classroom setting face a variety of challenges. Some of these are highlighted above. There are a wide variety of resources available online and at local libraries that offer guides, lesson plans, work sheets and suggestions for group activities. Teaching is a constant learning process, and the most successful instructors should always be open to new resources, and must always be able to adapt to the unique conditions of their classrooms.