Challenges Facing EFL Teachers in Mixed Ability Classes and Strategies Used to Overcome Them

Abstract

This study aimed at investigating the challenges faced by EFL teachers in grade five mixed-ability classes. It alsoaimed at investigating the strategies that teachers use in order to alleviate and overcome those challenges. There were170 participants in this study. The participants answered a questionnaire to elicit the common challenges they facedand the strategies they followed. The results showed that EFL teachers in Oman face different challenges inmixed-ability classes and they apply limited strategies to overcome them. Some recommendations for EFL teachersand policy makers are provided in addition to recommendations for further studies.