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Teaching English is a very complex subject. Each tutor faces many challenges, meets different types of students and uses certain methods. There are some features that have a significant impact on the teaching approach. We can classify to this group age, proficiency, motivation, culture or even students’ religion. Today, I will be discussing age, as a main determinant in a learning model. To begin with, it is essential to emphasize the differences between young learners and adults. Firstly, a grown-up person knows exactly why he/she attempts the class and what she/he wants to achieve. It is called a self directed learner. On the other hand, we have kids and teenagers who are dependent learners and accept all the information given. They don’t spend a lot of time thinking about what they want to get out of a class. Having said that, adults are more likely to be motivated than young learners. Another issue is the fact that children are mostly cheerful and full of energy which is an advantage and disadvantage at the same time. Adults are often more stressed and tired which could have a negative impact on their productivity in the classroom. After covering the main differences, the first aspect to discuss is choosing the right teaching method. This is one of the most significant step in the process of designing a syllabus. With adult learners, we can use a straight ESA method, boomerang or patchwork structure. In this case, a single lesson usually lasts an hour and activities are longer and more complex. The authentic materials that could be used are newspapers, TV programs or interviews. More convenient model for young learners is a simple EP structure which includes only Engage and Practice stage. The lesson is about 30 minutes long and activities are shorter in order to keep children’s attention. That is certain that materials like newspapers are too difficult for young students but we can use simple songs, games or crafts and arts. However, it is important to bear in mind that with 12-13 years old students who are more advanced, is also possible to use a straight ESA. Secondly, it is worth to considear the classroom management and autonomy. We can let grown ups to work things out for themselves and organize themselves. They can be trusted to work on their own and accomplish goals. With young learners, on the other hand, it is necessary to be all the time in charge of the classroom. It is impossible to leave them alone and expect them to do things on their own. In this case, the classroom management might be a more problematic task. Children are more lively, lauder and have less self-discipline. The most important thing is to never lose temper, shout or focus anger on the students because it never helps in maintaining order. To sum up, there are many differences between adults and young learners. Some of them may be perceived as advantages or disadvantages. Consequently, the teaching model will not be the same for each group. However, teaching a range of different age groups gives the opportunity to gain a valuable experience. Finally, it can open many doors in teacher’s carreer.
