Differentiation in the English as a Foreign Language (EFL) Classroom

Essay from the year 2017 in the subject Didactics - English - Miscellaneous, grade: 1,3, University of Potsdam, course: Englisch im Anfangsunterricht, language: English, abstract: The importance of differentiation should be clear to every teacher. In their classes they will always be confronted with heterogeneity, differentiation is the only way to deal with this fact. Often heterogeneity is seen as a problem, homogeneous learning groups are wanted. But can heterogeneity only be understood as a problem? Or can it even be a chance?

Heterogeneity can also be seen as a totally normal and even wanted starting point from teaching, learning and education. Differences between the pupils in a class are normal, in relation to their age, their intellectual capacity, their ethnical background and much more. It is a pedagogical duty to handle this diversity as a chance and as an enrichment for the whole group. Teaching must intentionally be planned considering the inner heterogeneity, by the use of variety of methods, differentiation and individualized learning (cf. Tillmann 2007).

The following essay will sum up two articles and one chapter about differentiation in the EFL classroom, it follows a short discussion of the topic and then it ends with the final conclusion. After reading the essay everybody should have a fundamental overview to the topic and should be able to understand that differentiation is indispensible in the EFL classroom.