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Teach English in Lichuan Zhen - Jincheng Shi

Do you want to be TEFL or TESOL-certified and teach in Lichuan Zhen? Are you interested in teaching English in Jincheng Shi? Check out ITTT’s online and in-class courses, Become certified to Teach English as a Foreign Language and start teaching English ONLINE or abroad! ITTT offers a wide variety of Online TEFL Courses and a great number of opportunities for English Teachers and for Teachers of English as a Second Language.

I taught in a primary school for five years before I was seconded to the headquarters of Singapore’s education ministry, where I spent the next three years working on policies and conducting training courses for teachers in Singapore schools. I undertook my bachelor and master degree courses on a part-time basis while continuing my full-time work as a teacher. As I reflect on those times, I was intrigued to observe how my lessons for primary school students differs from the courses I conducted for teachers, as well as how my lecturers and tutors structured my lessons in university. In this essay, I will discuss the difference between adult and young learners, and briefly mention the methodologies that would appeal to each group. Adult learners are first and foremost more motivated and disciplined than young learners in the classroom. This is because adult learners chose to undertake the course with the purpose of achieving new knowledge and skills which would benefit them economically or otherwise. They chose to pay the cost of the course and therefore will strive to complete it to reap the benefits. As an adult, they have been trained to have longer attention spans and therefore, are able to focus better during the lessons. In general, adult learners have considered the demands of the course and were prepared to put in the considerable effort and rigour required for each lesson. Adult learners are equipped with life experiences which they can draw upon to make sense of the learning and consider its application in their professional and personal lives. As such, the teaching methodologies for engaging and teaching adults can be more independent and self-driven modes of study which also comprises an interactive element in it. Problem-based learning, project-based learning, and class debates which allows for critical thinking and interactive discussions would be more effective than didactic teaching as it engages their life experiences and requires self-motivation and discipline. Young learners, on the other hand, have shorter attention spans and are thus unable to focus and stay on task for long periods of time. Due to their age and development, they are generally more dependent on the teacher to scaffold and assist them in order to complete the tasks and assignments given for their learning. They are often registered for a course because of their parents’ preference, and may resist having to attend lessons. Hence, their motivation may be generally lower than adult learners. As such, the teacher will have to undertake the role of a motivator to arouse their interest and increase their motivation to learn in the classroom. Although young learners do not have much life experience to benefit from, they make up for it with their willingness and enthusiasm to try new things. As children make sense of their world and learn through play, it is recommended that structured and meaningfully designed activities feature heavily in courses for young learners, to increase their motivation and desire to learn. Lessons for young learners should be structured in 30 to 45 minutes segments to accommodate their short attention spans. Outdoor activities are strongly recommended, where possible, to engage young learners as well.


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