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It is a fact that there are dissimilarities between young and adult learners. A teacher responsibility is to consider all the factors such as educational background, motivation etc and also a teachers aim must be to maintain a proper learning. So the question is what separates these two unique groups of learners? One of the most noticeable differences is an autonomy issue. Adults are independent learners while young learners are dependant. This therefore means that adults can work and organise themselves. In contrast, young learners need teachers control. Teaching young learners necessitates an effective classroom management. Young learners seem to have no fear. If it's fun, they are ready to try anything. However, adults are generally more nervous. Sometimes they may feel embarrassed while speaking while speaking in front of the class or answering the questions. So it can be said that anxiety is an another factor that distinguishes young learners from adults. In terms of motivation, adults know the fact that they are in the classroom for a reason which increases naturally their motivation levels. What about young learners? They generally do not know why they are in the classroom. They usually have no choice. In consequence, it is quite possible for adults to lose enthusiasm unless they are interested in what is happening in the classroom. It is another fact that if a teacher can make the connection between the material and the experience, he/she makes the learner more engaged. So, it's no surprise that experience makes the difference. It's all about what the learner brings to the classroom. Young learners bring energy, curiosity. On the other hand, adults bring life experience. They have their own ideas, own values that need to be respected. What about learning process? Young learners need a variety of activities, relating to the different senses. Young learners can get bored or lose their enthusiasm easily. Thats why the activities in a young learner classroom should be short and fun. Besides with young learners, a teacher is always in charge of the classroom. However with adults, it is highly possible to spend more time on learning tasks because they engage more deeply with the lesson. Young learners rely on others to decide what is important. A teacher is also a model for a young learner. They accept the information implicitly. They learn indirectly that directly as they have little or no experience. while adults prefer validating the information based on experience. They also prefer challenging new information. Probably one of the most obvious difference between a young learner and an adult learner is discipline. To be a qualified classroom manager, a teacher must be patient. She/he should be able to deal with discipline calmly. As a result, there is a number of differences between young learners and adults. This therefore means that working with an adult learner is different than working with a young learner. A teacher always should be aware of the particularities of learners as every learner is unique, to be able to utilise the best approaches and above all to maintain a fun atmosphere in the classroom.
