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 a lot of importance on the above points, then most probably you would be suited to teaching adults.

After completing my masters degree in teaching ESL, I look forward to teaching adults myself. Perhaps the only intimidating part about it for me is the thought of teaching people who speak languages I am not familiar with. I am rather fluent in the Spanish language; however, I am not experienced with dealing with students of, say, Asian or African descent. What should I be aware of when I approach teaching student of varying nationalities?

Vincent Todisco
TodiscoV@aol.com

If you teach students of different nationalities, then it should be no different to teaching students of all the same nationality. Reason is because you are only speaking English in the classroom.

I think teaching a class of all different nationalities is great because the students HAVE to speak English amongst themselves.

Teaching adults is way better, I find.

Repeated kid classes of
"I have a dog."
"It is brown"
"Tom has a dog"
"It is black!"

...well, that'll just kill your brain real fast!

rick@pandapassport.com
Pandapassport Blog - Living in Dalian China