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There are various differences and things to keep in mind when teaching English language classes to young learners versus adults. The teacher of these classes needs to be aware of several factors that will allow the participants from these distinct age groups to be motivated and enthusiastic for learning. We discovered in the TEFL units that young learners are typically categorized as those learners who are under 18 years of age, and this group could be further broken down into three subgroups: (1) young learners, typically pre-schoolers 7 years old or less; (2) pre-puberty learners, typically primary school students 8 to twelve years old; and (3) post-puberty learners, typically secondary school students 13 to 17 years old. One has to take into consideration many factors associated with each of these subgroups when deciding which approach and methodologies to take while planning their English lessons in order to make the overall learning experience the most effective possible. The differences between adult versus young learners comes about from the fact that children learned their native language without the aid of language teachers and course books. Young learners have absorbed the language around them, processed it through trial and error, and formulated internal ideas and rules to allow them to be able to use the language fluently and accurately. This is what is referred to as “natural language acquisition” and this is typically impossible to replicate in the classroom when learning English as a second language. Most of the methodologies utilized in TEFL teaching try to imitate this natural learning method as best as is possible. Children in general do not have the same attention span as adults. It is important to take a deep breath and slow down before starting to teach. Teaching young learners requires patience and a sense of fun and playfulness. After conducting some research, I have found a series of great tips that could be useful in teaching TEFL to young learners: • Hands-on activities should be used as much as possible. Children and young learners are incredibly open and they learn by absorbing ideas and concepts directly. Getting kids actively involved makes a big difference in their learning. • It is very important to avoid talking for long periods of time. Children do not have the patience for long lectures. Their energy levels drop lower and lower when there is too much talk. It is always best to explain an activity quickly and then go to it. Young learners need a good deal of stimulation all the time. • Reviewing materials frequently makes a big difference in their retention of concepts. New information is absorbed and has meaning when it is related to information students have already learned. • Praise the young learners as much as possible. This helps encourage and build them up in a natural way. Learning occurs when the young students are motivated and feel good about themselves. • Incorporate games as much as possible into your teaching of young learners to help motivate them and make the experience a fun one. These tips are all excellent for young learners, but could also apply to adults as well. In my opinion, if any learning is fun, it will make a difference in the overall learning experience. The various teaching methodologies that are part of TEFL allow teachers to help students to learn in a fun and productive way. The engage phase keeps students interested, the study phase helps students to learn, and the activate phase helps put into practice what they have learned. We are taught that lessons can be structured in the most appropriate way regardless of age.
