what should I do if...

This was my question during the last week. Why? because for this period my friend and I  were assigned to an Advanced group, and that for sure was a great concern not only for how the group could be, but also for the structure to be explained...

During our class observation we tend to create an image of the Ss, and most of the time we make a mistake judging them in advanced. As I have shared with you every single group is different, but there is a common characteristic among them which is ALL OF THEM LIE, and is the same that we did when we were in that level. but what do I mean when I say "they lie"? every single student is paying attention during the grammar explanation, and all of them nod when the teacher asks "Did you understand"...then the silence period...then the general nod, but it is only until you give them a practice when you realize if they got the idea or not.

This was the experience with this famous group, the topic explained by the teacher was kind of difficult and confusing and all of them were paying attention when that happened. It is a shame that (as students) we don´t want to ask for our questions, doubts or it is really embarrassing when we make a mistake in front of the others. 

Even though the topic was tough and I was really worried, everything went well. To break the ice with them I include a CHINESE WHISPER warm up, I asked them to form two lines and to spread the sentence that I gave to the last student from every line. The sentences were long and kind of confusing, but the most important part is that they had fun and cooperate with the activity.

After that, I presented a brief review about the participle clauses, because the teacher explained the grammar part in the previous class. Here is when I say that all of them were in agreement by nodding that they understood everything. But things changed when I gave them the first written practice and I set the time to solve it in 10 minutes. As in every single group, there are some Ss that get the idea in a couple of minutes, some others are fighting against the structure, and the ones that are looking at the ceiling of the room, praying for the class to finish...for them is that we as teachers must pay attention to and encourage them to go beyond by their own
and by giving them extra practices.

Finally, I presented a video and they had to solve an activity related with the main structure, but in the same way only a couple of them did it in the required time. What I have found really useful in those cases, is the fact of make them work in group without noticing I mean they have to come to the front and solve the sentences by their own, if they can´t do it...the rest has to help in a polite way...and at the end I know that most of them will take notes, and will respond to their personal doubts.

"Treat people as if they were what they ought to be and you help them become what they are capable of becoming." Goethe