Positives of Teaching Adults

[Niko]

Teaching Adults - why some teachers love it!

There are some teachers who only teach adults - not because of a lack of skills on how to teach children, but simply because they do not enjoy teaching children.

What are the reasons why so many teachers prefer teaching adults? Why do even new teachers to the circuit not consider teaching children?

Let's see what are some of the main reasons why teaching adults is preferred by many teachers.

• Deep and meaningful conversations. Of course this will depend on the student's English level. However, don't be surprised if you're having a debate on euthanasia, discussing life after death or analysing the changing world environment. For many teachers, such stimulating conversation is a big plus when teaching adults.
• Opportunities for friendship and romance. Participate in out-of-class activities and receive invitations to go drinking, eating or even visiting your students' house to meet the rest of the family.
• Less disciplining of the class. As you are teaching adults, you will not need to discipline students or correct their behaviour as compared to teaching children. If you ask your adult students to pay attention and keep quiet, then surely they will do as asked.
• Learning the local culture. Not only does the student learn English, but often the teacher will learn about the culture and local way of life from students. So if you find yourself teaching in Taiwan for example, after a few months teaching adults, you most probably will know a lot about Taiwanese culture.
• Ability to cancel classes or use substitute teachers. Teachers can more easily take holidays or cancel classes due to sickness or other reasons when teaching adults. Makeup classes can be scheduled or substitute teachers used where necessary. Adult students are more willing to accept such changes to their class.
• No shows. Many teachers do like getting paid for sitting and waiting. There will be times when your adult students are late to class or even do not show. In this case, the teacher still gets paid just for waiting in the classroom.
• Sit and talk. All that is required from some adult classes is for the teacher to sit and just engage in free flowing conversation with students. No getting up and jumping around as is the case with teaching children.

As you can see, teaching adults offers a whole lot of plusses that cannot be found when teaching children. If you place alot of importance on the above points, then most probably you would be suited to teaching adults.

[worldtour]

You make some valid points and in general I would agree with most of the points you make. However many of the points do not apply, at least not in my experience of nearly four years of teaching in China.

I think it is very rare to find a teaching opportunity that enables you to teach only adults. There are also big differences in what most westerners would consider an adult and what the reality is. Before I taught here I would have considered most college age students at least young adults, that is pretty much not the case. They are indeed still children. I have had less problems with young students than with college age students, on the whole the younger students give you more respect. On the other hand when I have taught business English most of what you say is true. You may not get too many deep conversations though as most adults have never had this style of teaching and Chinese culture does not encourage personal expression. You hear the term "gain knowledge" from them alot, picture a nest full of baby birds mouths wide open into which you pour your knowledge into them. The higher forms of learning such as extrapolation, deduction, supposition are difficult.

Generally, I would say friendship is very possible, but romance is seen by some as risky or unprofessional, by both Westerners and Asians. We have all heard the stories or seen them. It's a touchy subject and most be handled with a degree of tact, pun intended. My advise, make friends with everyone but keep your romance outside of your workplace.

I just have not found that people who are capable of having meaningful conversations on the subjects mentioned are taking English classes. They are usually already working in a job that requires English skills and have many more opportunities to practice within their day to day lives.

When I first started teaching I thought that teaching adults would be the way to go or at least older students, high school and college, but I have since changed my opinion and can honestly say teaching the young students is far more rewarding. I have taught at first, second and third tier universities, private language schools, public elementary schools and pretty much all age groups and all types of schools.

Yes, there are many who are not cut out for teaching children but you may find it is quite different than you imagined. I have had a few classes with adults that were very much like what is mentioned above and they were indeed enjoyable to teach, and it is great to have a more intellectual conversation, my main point perhaps is if you have not taught young ones you may not understand what you are missing. If you get them young and are one of their first teachers and keep them you can really excel with them and have all the extra perks of teaching in the areas of satisfaction and pride in regard to your profession.

worldtour