Answering to Gifted Students needs: ways to work with them in the EFL class

16/12/2016

Today we had a master class on Gifted Students and the mistreatment they normally receive from school teachers. Most of the times it happens because the teachers don't know how to identify students with a gifted mind, other worse cases involve a teacher turning a blind eye on them. In this section I will try to approach the needs the gifted students have in the classroom and how to work with them.

1. Independent Projects:

"Create an Independent Project activity. You will find that many gifted and talented students tend to have a lot of extra time on their hands in your classroom because they finish their work rather quickly. Use this time to help them develop their creativity by allowing them to explore a special area of interest related to the topic being studied". (Teachers First)

 2. Vertical Enrichment:

 Basically, Vertical Enrichment claims that Gifted Students have to be provided with assignments or materials that go above the classroom level. Giving the high capacities students a bigger workload on the same classroom contents is counterproductive.

3. From expert to facilitator:

Another strategy that experienced teachers insure it works is to become a facilitator (helper) instead of the expert (authority). Don't tell them things straight away, lead them so they end up discovering things by themselves. This way you will keep the students highly motivated and the acquisition will be completed.

4. Multiple Inteligences:

Of course, students like to learn, however they maight get bored after a while doing the same over and over again. Trying to change the teaching strategies oftenly will result in a higher engagement from the students to the learning process since not all students learn the same way. In fact, there exist many learning styles: linguistic, logical-mathematical, visual-spatial, body-kinesthetic, musical, interpersonal, intrapersonal, etc.

5. Find a Mentor:

The students needs may go beyond the reach of the teacher's efforts. Instead of being a burden for the teacher, find the student a mentor who is willing to work with her in her areas of interest. It can be inside the school or outside.

These are some of the ways you can act when you have such a special student in your EFL class. Don't just ignore her needs because they mean an overload for you. Instead, try your best to commit the gifted student to the learning process, always bearing in mind her interests and priorities.

Links:
"Teaching Gifted Students". An actual example of how to work with Gifted Students.

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