Hello
everyone🙌
Most of us
started their schools maybe some of us continue with online education or face to
face education. After all, the new education term has started.
In this term, teachers should be careful about their students' ages because people of different
ages have different needs, skills, competences, etc. Especially in this term, it is very important for us to understand them. We will look at the characteristics of these ages in terms of language learning.
There are three fundamental ages: young children, adolescents, and adults.
1.
1. Young children
* Their
understanding is not only exemplifying or explanation but also with their
senses such as see, hear, touch, taste, etc. For instance, when they learn the
shapes, looking at them, or touching them will become more permanent for them. They
must have a chance to interact with them
* They are
very curious about the world or everything around them so, they are so
enthusiasm for learning.
* They have
limited attention, they can easily get bored or losing their interests. It takes
generally 10 minutes. So, when teachers choose their activities, they
should be careful and, they should be cautious about extra activity.
Additionally, classroom environment should be bright and interesting such as
colorful posters, walls, pictures, etc.
* Group
works are especially useful and effective for them to a good relationship with
their classmates.
* They use
their imagination skills which are very important at that age and we should
allow them to use their imagination when they are learning something such as
puzzle or draw activities, etc.
* In young
learners, they are willing to talk about themselves and their own lives so, it
can be a good response for them choosing topics about their lives.
* For many
teachers, these ages can be a little more complicated. this group includes
students between the ages of 12 and 18.
* They have great capacity to learn and potential for creativity and passion, they are good learners but also, they have less motivation because of searching for their identities. It affects their learning skill very bad.
*
Adolescents can be crucial, and they may have some discipline problems. Because
of that, teachers should control them but at the same time they should be
supportive and helpful, teachers should engage them in lessons. They may push their teachers' limit, in that case, contrary to shouts or bad attitude, teachers
should find constructive ways.
* As I
mentioned before they have some problems with their individual identities. In
that term, schools or teachers can help them with conferences because dealing
with problems without any information can be challenging for them. If they feel
more confident, they can be more concentrate on their lessons. It affects good
ways.
* Teachers
must give them tasks or homework that they are able to do rather than risk
humiliating them. Teachers should be aware of their students’ interests.
3. 3. Adults
* They are
more motivated and disciplined than adolescents. They have a clear understanding of
what they need or do not need.
* Their
activities are longer and more complicated than other learners. As in other age
groups, visual and auditory learning is important and more permanent for them.
They learn something with indirect learning such as writing, listening, etc.
* On the
other hand, adults are never entirely problem-free learners. For example, their
previous learning experience may have affected them in a good or bad way.
*Also, many
adults do not trust their intellectual powers this can reduce their motivation.
In a
nutshell, we should know that every age is different, and they need different
strategies to learn something. We cannot use strategies that are suitable for
young learners to adults.
Have a nice
day and have a nice education term.
See you
next post👋💛
Source:
Harmer, J.
(2001). The practice of English language teaching. London / New York Chapter 3: Describing learners,
p. 37-41.
