Every ESL classroom has multilevel students, but in most cases the students are comparable enough in ability to all benefit from the same activities and lesson plans. A truly ESL multilevel classroom consists of students who vary so widely in regard to language skills that they cannot all participate in any single game or activity.

This causes a dilemma for the dedicated ESL teacher. Considerable extra work and planning must be done in order to prepare lesson plans to cover extreme differences in language levels. Fortunately, many activities can be successfully broken down into different levels of participation, allowing all students to progress.

When choosing a plan for organizing your ESL classroom, the size of the class should be a consideration. A relatively small class of only 3 - 9 students will lend itself to on set of approaches, while a large class of 10-20 students may require another set.

Small Multilevel ESL Groups

Small classes allow teachers to split their time and efforts between individual students and still be effective. After one or two classes, it is easy to determine a student's level, and more complex questions can naturally be directed at the more advanced members of the group.

Small groups are also well suited to role playing or drama centered activities. Advanced students can assist in creating scripts and taking onl lead roles while beginners can still participate fully at their own level with simple lines.

Guided Reading and Centers

The model known as "small groups and centers" is ideal for multilevel ESL classroom use. A 20-30 minute Guided Reading lesson should be prepared for each level. During each group's assigned reading time, the other groups will participate in independent work at centers. These centers should be pre-stocked with appropriate activities that can be used more than once, so multiple lessons can be planned.

In the case of a classroom with three levels (beginner, intermediate and advanced), the following schedule could be followed: as each group is having their Guided Reading lesson, the other two groups are assigned to separate centers. As each group finishes reading, they rotate to one of the centers, bumping the next group to the second center and the last group into the reading circle. The two most popular types of centers are the Gaming Center and the Listening Center.

ESL Gaming Center

Multilevel ESL strategy games include such favorites as Battleship which involves trying to guess where your opponent has hidden his fleet and bomb it before he bombs your own. Word games such as Pictionary and scrabble are also good. Role playing cards can be handed out to students and acted out as a group - this works best with adult classes as children may become excited and distract the other groups.

ESL Listening Center

A listening center should be supplied with multiple headphones plugged into a CD or tape playing device. This permits each student to listen to and / or read along with recorded non-fiction articles or stories. Response activities are needed for comprehension - worksheets or journals to record answers to preset questions, or art materials to complete a representation of a scene described in the story.

Large Multilevel ESL Groups

For larger groups, an approach known as "Whole-group-to-leveled groups" is often easier to implement. A short introductory activity can be conducted for the whole class, after which the students may be broken up into pairs or groups for student-to-student activities. This choice is perfect for ESL classrooms with limited resources, and instances when the gap between proficiency levels is large (beginners mixed with advanced students).

ESL multilevel activities can be created from almost any curriculum - simply set up system within your classroom where each activity has several levels of testing. A story can be shared with the group, then the different levels assigned different activities based off the same material. For example, a story or non-fiction article can be read aloud to the class during 'whole group' time. After the class is split up into 'leveled groups', the advanced students can be required to write a page long essay, intermediates requested to complete a multiple choice quiz or a word definition test, and beginners merely asked to fill in the blanks on a vocabulary worksheet.

The buddy system can be employed to allow higher level students to assist lower level ones; advanced students can pair up with beginners during reading time to help ensure words are being properly pronounced and can formulate questions to check comprehension. Peer editing can also be done within leveled groups, with students checking each others work and returning it with corrections and comments. This builds classroom unity, and lets each student feel like a useful part of the group.

All ESL classrooms can benefit from ESL multilevel activities in some capacity. For those where the gap between levels is wider than average, a little preparation to make progress a reality for all students will be greatly appreciated by teachers and students alike. Multilevel ESL techniques such as centers and groups can be combined when appropriate - don't feel restricted by the size of your class, but use the techniques that work best for your students and yourself.

About the author: Shelley Vernon, conscious of the vital role teachers can play in the lives of their pupils, promotes learning through encouragement and games.

Receive free games and ideas on ESL Games and Activities for All Ages: http://www.teachingenglishgames.com/

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