One of the challenges that language schools encounter is forming groups for their classes in an efficient and effective way, both for the school’s sake as well as the students’. Language students are not homogeneous. Classes are generally composed of students who are all different ages with diverse backgrounds and who are at different levels. Those responsible for forming groups in language schools know this all too well.
This tends to happen less in formal classes where students theoretically come from the same place or have similar backgrounds up until reaching that course. However, with languages it is very common for classes to be composed of people of different ages, with different levels of education and who have had varying degrees of contact with the language (trips, movies, TV series, music, etc.). Therefore, forming groups that optimize classrooms, teachers and schedules is challenging for schools.
At Dexway, we have five structured levels per language, which in turn are divided into several sub-levels, all aligned with the Common European Framework of Reference. The first group of levels (A1, A2 and B1) are divided into three sublevels and the remaining two (B2, C1) into two sublevels.
This equals a total of 13 levels, which makes it unfeasible for language schools to keep each level separate. Although it would be ideal, in reality this separation doesn’t occur due to its complexity and the amount of resources it would require. Most schools have 5 or 6 established sublevels.
If you do not have enough classrooms, do you lose enrolled students?
Enrolling students in face-to-face classes that are above or below their level may cause them to fail. Students may feel that they are wasting time, causing them to become bored or frustrated. In the end, the students lose interest and end up dropping out. Only when students see themselves progressing in their language learning are they able to stay motivated and continue studying.
CAE has over 35 years of expertise in e-learning, providing language schools with fully customized solutions. Dexway Idiomas global solutions are prepared to respond and help alleviate language schools’ main concerns, ensuring that their students will progress and keep attending class throughout the entire course.
Knowing what true knowledge a student has of a language is essential to correctly assess that student’s level.
Placement test and reinforcement by objectives
The initial placement test not only provides information about the level the student is at, but also information about their weaker subject areas. With this information, reinforcement exercises can be programmed, even by objective, to help strengthen these weaker subject areas. Reinforcements occur either face-to-face or individually, or even through online learning nuggets that are assigned to each student outside of class.
By working on these shortcomings, students can focus on the specific issues that they have the most difficulties with, strengthening their knowledge and advancing quicker in the areas they master.
If there are not enough students to form a group… do you lose enrolled students?
Once the level and subgroup have both been determined, as well as any reinforcements (so they can be placed in the correct class), some problems may arise such as the group for their appropriate course level is full or there are not enough classrooms or students to form a group for each level.
Dexway’s global solutions are focused on solving this problem by offering language schools more flexibility and resources, not only to welcome all interested students, but to do so effectively and ensure they do not drop out of the course in the middle of the year.
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