English teacher in Vietnam not only teach students and children, but they also have to teach adults as well. Here are things to consider when teaching English to adults.
I. Learning characteristics of adults
The learning of adults has motives, needs, and characteristics completely different from children. For the adult, learning is secondary to making a living, family care, and parenting. Adults want to learn things that are clear, specific and highly practical. Adults learn for today, not for tomorrow. They want to learn the contents of knowledge that can be used immediately in real life, productive labor.
Adult learning is completely voluntary. Any coercion, imposition or any administrative measure has no effect. Either adults will refuse to go to school or they will be indifferent and passive in class. Adults only really participate in learning when they need it.
Adult learning is not passive. Adults always compare and compare what they have learned and heard with their own knowledge and experiences. These experiences can support and facilitate their awareness. In contrast, the conservative experience and the “sense of knowing” are often psychological obstacles that are important for adult learning.
II. Difficulties in teaching adults:
Adults are often very conservative. Experience and knowledge of adults have negative effects and obstacles to the learning process and awareness of adults. Experience often gives adults “a sense of knowing”. This is one of the important psychological obstacles to adult learning and awareness. Adults are not easy to learn what others impose when they do not understand, are not accurate or incomplete in their previous perceptions and experiences. Therefore, when instructing adults to learn, it is important for teachers to learn their conception and experience, need to be very skillful and delicately analyzed (often through the opinions of the group, of class) to help them see the limitations and mistakes of their experiences and concepts so that learners can adjust, improve or change their previous experiences and conceptions.
As people who are older, adults often have certain limitations in cognitive ability. The reaction speed, audiovisual ability, movement, attention, memory … of adults are generally reduced. Therefore, it is very hard for them to memorize new vocabulary or grammar. They often need to listen to the lesson more than one time in order to truly remember the lesson. This is why an English teacher in Vietnam must be very patient when their students are adults.
III. Things you should do when teaching English to adults:
– English Teacher in Vietnam needs to be patient and respectful when students have difficulties, paying attention to keeping their tone, body language, and attitude reasonably. Each person will have a different strength, being humble and respecting each student is something you should keep in mind.
– Teachers need to build their teaching content focusing on practical and common factors. Using and designing the content, programs, and textbooks in accordance with the goals and ages of students such as English at work, when applying for jobs, interviewing…
– Adults are easily discouraged by difficulties, teachers should build them with confidence, give clear learning pathways, students will feel better and ready to start learning more.
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