Did you have a great lesson in one class, but it was a flop in the next? Or maybe your brightest student is acing the grammar but just can’t get the listening exercises right? This could be because your lesson isn’t considering different learning styles. Let’s find out how we can turn that around!
Table of Contents
1. Why are my students disengaged? Are my lessons boring?
Many students struggle with disengagement and frustration due to a one-size-fits-all approach to teaching. These methods often fail to account for the varied backgrounds, learning styles, and preferences of ESL learners. As a result, some students may feel left out, leading to decreased motivation and slower progress.
As a teacher, it helps to adopt flexible and inclusive teaching strategies that cater to the individual needs of each student. One way to accommodate different learning styles and create a more engaging and effective learning environment is the use of instructional choice!
2. Instructional Choice? Is this a quiz?
Instructional choice refers to providing students with options in their learning activities, allowing them to select tasks that align with their personal strengths, weaknesses, and preferences. This approach empowers students to take ownership of their learning, fostering a sense of autonomy and motivation.
How can this help in my classroom?
- Enhance Critical Thinking: When students reflect on their strengths and weaknesses to make choices, they engage in critical thinking. This process helps them become more self-aware and better able to identify strategies that work for them.
- Improve Problem-Solving Skills: Decision-making in learning activities promotes problem-solving skills. Students learn to evaluate options, make informed choices, and take responsibility for their learning outcomes.
- Student Engagement: With more options for participation, your students’ interest in the lesson will increase, and their retention of the material will improve.
3. How Can I Bring Instructional Choice Into My Classroom?
There are two simple steps to incorporating Instructional Choice into your class. First, you need to figure out your students’ different learning styles, then you can adapt your lessons to make sure everyone is included.
3.1. Understanding the Four Types of Learners
To effectively implement instructional choice, it is essential to understand the different types of learners and their preferred activities. The four primary types of learners are:
By recognizing these different learning styles, educators can design activities that cater to each type, ensuring that students have the opportunity to engage in a way that suits them best.
3.2. Can You Give Me Some Examples?
To integrate instructional choice effectively, educators can use two main approaches: Within Activity Choice and Between Activity Choice.
| Approaches | Differences | Examples |
|---|---|---|
|
Within Activity Choice |
Offering options within a single activity.
These activities will relate to one topic. |
Students could choose between writing a report or creating a presentation on the same topic. This allows learners to select the format that best suits their strengths and preferences |
|
Between Activity Choice |
Offering a variety of different activities that students can choose from. These activities will relate to different topics within a larger theme/unit. |
For a unit on historical events, students could choose to: Draw a timeline (Visual) Record a podcast discussing the events (Auditory) Write an essay analyzing the impact (Reading/Writing) Perform a reenactment or role-play (Kinesthetic) |
Here are some ideas for you to try:
- Project Options: When assigning a project, provide multiple formats for completion. Students could choose to create a video, write a detailed report, design a poster, or conduct an interview.
- Homework Assignments: Offer a menu of homework options, such as completing a set of written questions, creating a comic strip to summarize a lesson, recording a short podcast, or building a physical model.
- In-Class Activities: During lessons, provide stations with different activities. For example, a science lesson could have a reading corner, an audio-visual station, a hands-on experiment table, and a discussion group.
4. Conclusion
By offering instructional choices, educators can make lessons more inclusive and engaging, catering to the diverse needs of ESL students. This approach not only enhances learning but also empowers students to take charge of their educational journey, leading to greater success and satisfaction.
This is great for teachers, too! When your students are more engaged with your lessons, they’ll be less likely to get bored and misbehave. You can also get higher interest scores in student surveys and be confident that your students are enjoying their time with you.
Credit: “The Power of Choice: How to Implement Choice for Various Learning Styles”
by Nguyen Hai Trieu (Ashley) from VUS Nguyen Oanh.
With nearly 30 years of experience in English education in Vietnam, VUS has grown its network to 73 campuses and more than 2,700 qualified teaching staff nationwide.
VUS is proud to be recognized with two awards at the Vietnam Technology Excellence Awards 2025, honored as an Inspirational Brand at APEA for two consecutive years, and acknowledged through various national and international awards.
When joining VUS, teachers and teaching assistants enjoy a wide range of practical benefits that support long-term growth and commitment:
- Stable income: Steady and fair rewards for your efforts, allowing you to focus on teaching and growth.
- Ongoing professional training: Structured onboarding with entrance workshops and continuous support via sharing sessions and the Training Hub, led by Teaching Quality Managers holding master’s or doctoral degrees and extensive teaching experience.
- Modern, international-standard facilities: Diverse teaching tools, updated materials, and well equipped classrooms for a professional working environment.
- Engaging internal events: Activities that create opportunities to relax, connect with colleagues, and recharge your energy.
- Supportive colleagues: Work with a team that is always ready to share, support, and grow together.
- Clear career advancement: A transparent career path with many opportunities to challenge yourself and grow into higher roles.
VUS offers a professional workplace where you can strengthen your skills, grow your career, and inspire young learners across Vietnam:
– Expatriate Teachers: Experience teaching in Vietnam with international standards, integration support, and career development opportunities.
– Vietnamese Teachers: Continuously sharpen your expertise while helping students reach out to the world.
– Teaching Assistants: The first step to explore the teaching profession and gain valuable real-life classroom experience.
Start your teaching journey with VUS today!
