Teaching Adults How-To:
Advantages and Challenges
From Busy Teacher
This article lists both advantages and challenges of teaching adult MLs.
The Advantages Of Teaching Adults
- Autonomous learners – They have experience in studying and learning. Homework should be challenging, but should not take a lot of their time.
- Motivated individuals – They have a need or desire to learn English and have chosen to take classes, but they need to know how what is being taught will help them meet their goals.
- A wealth of knowledge – They have experience both in life and in their professions. This can be tapped in class discussions and activities.
The Challenges Of Teaching Adults: What Adult Learners Want
- Lack of time – Many are busy with work and family responsibilities. They can be given several assignments, but keep the time for completing them to 5-10 minutes.
- Frustration – They are self-conscious and may be unsure of their pronunciation. They also get frustrated if they feel that they are not improving or their work is not perfect. They need guidance to create reachable goals which will enable them to be aware of their progress.
See the links below the article for more tips and information.
Wickham mentions some of the differences between adults and children as learners. Adults may be under pressure to learn English, they may feel that they are too old, or that they remember past failures to learn the language. They also are expecting a return on their investment in signing up for classes. In addition, adults are more self-conscious and fear making mistakes.
