After almost six years of working with mixed ability classes in a private catholic school, where solidarity is promoted, I'd like to say that I have smelt a bit of success dealing with my advanced students, who can be a really pain in our necks if we don't find something interesting for them to do.

We have an English Workshop directed by the teachers of english but the classes are in charge of the students who work as teachers of their partners. These "student-tutors" are from the last year of high school who devote their free time to teach those ones who have never seen English before or false beginners. The results are incredibly good. After four months you can see the improvements and the satisfaction on both learners and student-tutors faces.

Last year one of these volunteers taught a group of first graders with love and enthusiasm, he offered his help because he wanted to give back what he recieved when he was one of those with difficulties in English. As a teacher I feel very proud of my students who offer their help without any condition or future reward. I know that some of the graduated ones who are at the university now, earn some money teaching their classmates English or translating some of their university homework.

It has been hard work but after these years more and more students want to participate in the workshop and more weak learners of English feel comfortable and more secure when they see their "big brothers" teaching them with happiness and love.