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Ability Grouping as a Way towards More Academic Success in Teaching EFL - A Case of Iranian Undergraduates

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  • Bahareh Khazaeenezhad
  • Hossein Barati
  • Mehdi Jafarzade

Abstract

This research is an attempt to find out if grouping learners, through using a placement test will significantly help students become more successful in learning English. 320 non-English major undergraduates studying at the University of Isfahan participated in this research. The final scores of 121 freshmen who attended their general English courses in homogenised classes were compared with those of 199 freshmen who did not undergo any placement procedure. The analysis of data suggested that grouping the learners and dividing them into different ability groups had a significant impact on the participants’ academic success, in their course of general English. In addition, the results suggested that ability grouping provides sufficient ground for methodological decisions and hence sequencing of teaching materials and procedures

Suggested Citation

  • Bahareh Khazaeenezhad & Hossein Barati & Mehdi Jafarzade, 2012. "Ability Grouping as a Way towards More Academic Success in Teaching EFL - A Case of Iranian Undergraduates," English Language Teaching, Canadian Center of Science and Education, vol. 5(7), pages 1-81, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:ibn:eltjnl:v:5:y:2012:i:7:p:81
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Laura M. Argys & Daniel I. Rees & Dominic J. Brewer, 1996. "Detracking America's schools: Equity at zero cost?," Journal of Policy Analysis and Management, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 15(4), pages 623-645.
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    Cited by:

    1. Huang, Shu-Hsiu & Tsai, Kuei-Ju, 2024. "English for general purposes (EGP) as a means to improve undergraduate freshmen’s language proficiency in Taiwan," International Journal of Educational Development, Elsevier, vol. 106(C).
    2. Kazem Barzegar & Amin Dehghan, 2025. "Addressing linguistic diversity in Iranian medical university English for general purposes courses: analyzing the correlation between norm-referenced and criterion-referenced tests," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 12(1), pages 1-11, December.

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • R00 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - General - - - General
    • Z0 - Other Special Topics - - General

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