© 2002 by Oxford University Press
Teaching heterogeneous classes
1 The ELT Department at Tambov State University (Russia) Email: millrood@millrood.tstu.ruhttp://www.elt.freehomepage.com
A widely held view is that a teacher working in a heterogeneous (mixed-ability) class should adapt the tasks to individual learner needs. Such individualization turns a lesson into a mixed variety of the individual-fit activities, and is sometimes described by teachers as impractical. This article studies an alternative approach which involves teaching a heterogeneous class as a whole class of individuals. The author claims that the major factor in the heterogeneous class is the lesson context, which can create either successful or unsuccessful language learners. This article draws on classroom research data to describe the features of a success-building lesson context.