Teaching Young Learners & Teens
Young Learners
Teaching young learners in English Language Teaching (ELT) involves the process of providing effective instruction to children in their early years of education, typically from kindergarten to primary school. Teaching young learners in ELT requires specialized techniques and approaches, as children have unique learning needs and cognitive abilities. Some of the key principles of teaching young learners in ELT include:
Incorporating fun and engaging activities to maintain children's interest and motivation
Using a variety of teaching strategies and materials to accommodate different learning styles and preferences
Focusing on developing basic communication skills, such as listening, speaking, and reading comprehension
Providing ample opportunities for practice and feedback to reinforce language learning
Building a positive classroom environment that fosters creativity, collaboration, and cultural awareness
Teaching young learners in ELT is essential for developing their language proficiency and preparing them for academic success. It also helps them to become effective communicators and prepares them for future language learning opportunities. ELT teachers who work with young learners must possess specialized training and expertise in early childhood education to effectively meet the needs of their students.
Teens
Teaching English as a second language to teenagers can be both challenging and rewarding. Teenagers are at a unique stage in their lives where they are transitioning from childhood to adulthood, and this can impact their motivation and engagement in the classroom. However, with the right approach, teaching teenagers ESL can be a fun and enjoyable experience for both the teacher and the students. One important aspect of teaching teenagers is to make the lessons relevant and relatable to their interests and experiences. Incorporating popular culture, social media, and current events can help to engage students and make the lessons more meaningful. Additionally, creating a positive and supportive classroom environment can help to foster a sense of community and belonging among the students, which can further enhance their motivation and learning. Ultimately, teaching teenagers ESL requires a balance of structure, creativity, and empathy to meet their unique needs and facilitate their language learning journey.
Videos
Engaging young learners in meaningful, successful and fun! writing activities
Rachel Jeffries - Spotlight on creative drama, bringing stories to life
Storytelling and story-writing for Cambridge English: Young Learners
5 FUN ways to get young learners to respond! Anne Robinson and Jane Ritter
5 FUN ideas to make vocabulary jump out of the page for young learners with Nick Mayfield
5 FUN ideas to use self-evaluation with young learners,. with Jane Ritter
References & Resources
Cameron, L. (2001). Teaching languages to young learners
Pinter, A (2006). Teaching young language learners
Dantas-Whitney, M. & Rilling, S. (Eds.) (2010). Authenticity in the language classroom and beyond: Children and adolescent learners
McKay, P. (2006). Assessing young language learners (Cambridge Language Assessment Series).
Philip, J., Oliver, R. & Mackey, A. (Eds.) (2008). Second language acquisition and the younger learner: Child’s play?
Baker, C. (2001). The care and education of young bilinguals (2nd ed.)
Cloud, N., Genesee, F., & Hamayan, E. (2009). Literacy instruction for English language learners: A teacher's guide to research-based practices
Meier, D. R. (2004). Developing first and second language and literacy: The young child’s memory for words
Nikolov, M & Curtain, H (Eds.) (2000). An early start: Young Learners and modern languages in Europe and beyond.
Cameron, L. & McKay, P. (2010). Bringing creative teaching into the young learner classroom
Linse, C. (2005). Young learners: Practical English language teaching (PELT) series
McKay, P. & Guse, J. (2007). Five minute activities for young learners
Ong, M. F. & Murugesan, V. (2007). Teaching English to young learners: An illustrated guide for EFL teacher development (with audio CD )
Wright, A., Betteridge, D. and Buckby, M. (2006). Games for language learning (Cambridge Handbooks for Language Teachers) (3rd ed.).
Biriotti, L. (1999). Grammar is fun: Young pathfinder 8
Bourke, K. (1999). The grammar lab: Book 1
Brewster, J., Ellis, G. & Girard, D. (2002). The primary English teacher's guide (Penguin English Guides).
Calabrese, I. & Rampone, S. (2007). Cross-curricular resources for young learners
Ellis, G. and Brewster, J. (2002). Tell it again: the new storytelling handbook for primary teachers.
Greenwood, J. (1997). Activity box: A resource book for teachers of young students (Cambridge Copy Collection)
Ioannou-Georgiou, S & Pavlou, P (2003). Assessing young learners
Lewis, G. with G. Bedsen (1999). Games for children
Lewis, G. (2004). The Internet and young learners
Lindstromberg, S. (Ed.) (2004). Language activities for teenagers.
Moon, J. (2005). Children learning English
Paran, A. and Watts, E. (2003). Storytelling in ELT.
Phillips, D., Burwood, S. & Dunford, H. (1999). Projects with young learners (Resource Books for Teachers).
Read, C. (2007). 500 activities for the primary classroom
Reilly, J. & Reilly, V. (2005). Writing with children.
Wicks, M. (2000). Imaginative projects (Cambridge Copy Collection)
Wright, A. (2001). Arts and crafts with children
Lesson Plans
