Question

Could you please comment and answer with your own ideas?

Two days ago you began teaching a new group of adult Intermediate level students.During that first lesson you noticed a potential problem that you would like to address before it becomes a real problem.

The problem : The group are forming into two definite cliques,.i.e. the two groups tend to exclude each other.The reason for this is that the two groups were taught by different teachers at the previous language level.

Your aim :You want to introduce an activity to encourage the two groups to mix, and that will promote mutual respect between all the students.

The task : Describe the activity you would use to encourage the two groups to mix and get to know each other.Explain any other ways that you would aim to overcome this problem.

Answer 1

To encourage the two groups to mix and get to know each other, I would suggest a team-building activity that requires collaboration and communication. One such activity is "Two Truths and a Lie," where each student writes down three statements about themselves, two of which are true and one of which is false. Each student reads their three statements out loud, and the rest of the class tries to guess which one is false. This activity not only promotes communication and teamwork but also allows the students to get to know each other on a more personal level.

In addition to the team-building activity, I would also incorporate group work in class, where the students are randomly assigned to groups and required to work together to complete a task or assignment. This will force them to interact with different students and hopefully break down the cliques that have formed.

As the teacher, I would also make an effort to create a positive and inclusive classroom environment. This can be achieved by acknowledging and celebrating the diversity within the class and encouraging open and respectful communication. I would also ensure that I treat all students equally and avoid showing favoritism towards either group.

Lastly, I would have a conversation with the students, addressing the issue and explaining how it can affect their language learning and social development. I would encourage them to be open-minded and accepting of their classmates and emphasize the importance of working together to achieve a common goal. By creating a positive and inclusive environment and promoting teamwork and communication, I believe that the cliques can be broken down, and the students can work together successfully.