1.4 Teaching Adults

[Niko]

Adult Students (age: 19~50)

It's important to understand why adults learn English. Adult students will have different reasons, generally falling into the following categories:

1. Improve English Proficiency
2. Enjoyment, Relaxation and Friendship
3. Traveling

The English teacher needs to assess which of the above reasons relate to their students. Only then can suitable lessons be prepared.

Homework is rarely assigned to adult students due to their already busy lifestyles.

1. Improve English Proficiency

Some students constantly strive towards improving English proficiency for various reasons as:

• Entering a foreign university
• Studying abroad
• Career advancement
• And so forth...

These students often measure proficiency through exam sitting on a regular basis. TOEIC, TOEFL, Cambridge and IELTS are commonly sat exams amongst these adult students.

A good lesson plan ratio would be 20% free conversation, 30% group work and 50% for handouts and text work.

2. Enjoyment, Relaxation and Friendship

Many adult students do participate in English lessons for enjoyment, relaxation and to build new friendships. Don't be alarmed if students come to class without pen and paper.

These type of students want fun classes without the need for complex grammar explanations and text work. Students are satisfied if they can maintain their English level, whilst at the same time learning about the interests' of fellow classmates.

A good ratio would be 60% free conversation, 30% group work and 10% for handouts.

3. Traveling

Particulary in Asia, students frequently travel to foreign countries for sightseeing. When traveling abroad, basic knowledge of English helps in daily situations as shopping, hotel check-in, bookings and dining.

Use of handouts focusing on daily English and role playing situations are preferred for such students.

This category closely ties in with the above "Enjoyment, relaxation and friendship" category.

A good ratio would be 40% free conversation, 20% group work and 40% for handouts.

To Summarise

• It's important to determine the needs of adult students prior to the lesson.
• Adult students learn English to either improve their proficiency, for entertainment reasons or for travel needs.