Adolescents

Adolescents

• depending on the stage of their development, teenagers can start to think in abstract terms
• many adolescent students become passionate about things that interest them; these students can be very creative in classroom – offering ideas, energy and enthusiasm
• many of them have lots of energy, which sometimes leads to discipline problems
• they need self-esteem; need to feel good about themselves and valued
• adolescents are rebellious in nature and find it irritating when they are treated as children
• they usually have not chosen to come to an English lesson. They are there because they have to be there
• many of them want and need peer approval far more than they want and need the approval of the teacher.

Although teaching adolescents is generally considered the most challenging task, when motivated and engaged they can be very successful language learners and the most exciting students of all. In order to establish a positive leaning environment with teenagers teachers need to encourage them to express their opinions and think critically, use the students’ own knowledge and experience as much as possible, treat the teenagers as adults keeping in mind they are still children, and encourage them to take responsibility for their learning. Teenage students are far more likely to enjoy the lessons if they can see the relevance of what they are doing to their own lives and interests. When disciple problems arise, it is important to be consistent and criticize the behaviour, not the student.