Working with Small Groups

For #TESL0100

The following table represents my thoughts on the advantages and disadvantages of working with small groups in an ESL class. The group descriptions and table format are from the UMLearn course pages, Unit 7, as adapted from  Reed & Michaud (2013, p. 118). My responses are based on my own experience and the information in Brown & Lee (2015, Ch. 13 & 14).

Small Groups	Advantages	Disadvantages
Learners are grouped by classroom proximity	Very easy to organize	Groups may be the same throughout the term as learners tend to sit in the same places
Same level ability groups	Better chance of equal participation	Less opportunity for peer teaching
Mixed level ability groups	Possibility of peer teaching	Possibility of low participation by some students
Same language background groups	Students can explain concepts to each other in L1	Ss could engage in off topic conversation
Mixed language background groups	Less chance of off topic conversation	Ss may have difficulty understanding each other
Similar personality groups	Ss will get along, no one dominates	Less dynamic conversation
Mixed personality groups	Ss can serve different roles in group	Possibility of conflict
Random counting	No advance preparation needed	Less optimal combinations of students may result

Resources:

Brown, H.D. & Lee, H., (2015), Teaching by Principles: An Interactive Approach to Language Pedagogy, 4^th ed., Pearson Education Inc., White Plains, NY, pp.257 - 309.

Reed, M., & Michaud, C. (2013). Goal-Driven lesson planning for teaching English to speakers of other languages. Ann Arbor, MI: University of Michigan Press.