Theme: Planning lessons for teaching different age learners

Theme: Planning lessons for teaching different age learners.
Plan
1. Teaching Students Age 3-5.
2.Working with Students Age from5 to 10.
3.Planning lessons for juniors.

Teaching Students Age 3-5

Planning lessons for teaching learners who are in different age groups is more time consuming. I mean that English language classes are usually held in groups. This is true for children aged 3 to 5 years, that is, pre-school children. But it’s equally so for schoolchildren, both for those attending lower grades as well as those in higher grades. It is imperative that the teachers adapt the curriculum so that it matches the students’ age and abilities. For example, the youngest students will most likely master English through various games and singing, which shouldn’t come as a surprise given that young children best acquire a foreign language when it’s presented to them in a familiar way. Older students can use much more sophisticated learning methods.
The youngest students, who are between three and five years old, should be introduced to the basic concepts they know in their mother tongue while learning English, and they will learn them better through playing, drawing and singing. Activities should, therefore, be organized in a way that they revolve around activities the child would usually do for fun at that age because such activities will not bore the child as easily and will hold their attention for a longer time, as opposed to tedious exercises.Furthermore, at such an early age, it is important not to force the children to learn through rules and definitions because an approach like that will most likely not yield the positive results the teachers should strive to achieve with their pupils. Moreover, teachers should try to motivate their pupils to work and learn by, for example, giving them interesting stamps that vary in shape and size, like star or heart shaped stamps, that is, give them praise when it is deserved, and other rewards, with the aim of developing creativity and team spirit, which will have an extremely positive effect on the acquisition of knowledge of English language.
Anyone who has taught kindergarten knows how much energy the students have. It is a full lesson of go, go, go. As cute as the kids are, if your lesson is not jam-packed with active, high-energy games, you’re going to lose them. In order to keep the students active and entertained as well as get the target language across, you will need to be innovative. This age group responds very well to songs, colorful images and movement. Make sure your activities include at least one of these three elements to keep them interested. Not only must the activity have movement, so should you. Don’t be afraid to make a fool of yourself. Kindergartens react well to exaggerated facial expressions, big movements and loud sounds. For example teaching them about animals in the jungle is most effective when you make the sounds of the animals and role play to the students. They will not only love the acting but if the teacher is comfortable with acting like a kindergartener then they will feel more confident in the classroom and being among other students.
Keep lessons active while including the target language in fun ways. Try not to include activities which require a lot of coordination or ball skills. This age group is still developing those skills and if they are asked to do something they lack confidence in, the student will shy away and not want to participate. With the correct balance of learning and fun these lessons will be a huge success, so clown around and enjoy being a child again.
Working with Students Age from 5 to 14
When working with young children, teachers should fully adjust the curriculum to the age of the students, which means that they will help them in the best possible way to adopt knowledge that suits their age. Since in this age group there could still be pupils that haven’t mastered the writing skill, teachers should try to adapt the curriculum and classes, first and foremost, to the abilities and knowledge of such young learners. This means that in this case, similarly to working with students 3-5 years of age, most of the learning will take place through games that are already familiar to them because this is also the best way to master English language skills that are suitable for children from 5-7 years of age. Also, sounds of English language should be introduced to children at this point so that they will, through fun and interesting activities and play, get to know the sounds of a new language, learn their first words in English and, at the same time, develop curiosity and listening skills. And it’s always good to know How to Motivate Young Learners. For students in first to fourth grade, that is, for those whose age is from 7 to 10 years, different ways of acquiring language skills should be envisaged. The curriculum should contain mostly topics and areas that are close to students, that is, those that will stimulate interest so that they will be relatively easy to master.
Apart from the fact that the students at this age should learn how to communicate properly in the foreign language, and at their level of knowledge, team spirit will develop, since it is best that the teaching be as interactive as possible. This approach to teaching should very positively reflect on the acquisition of knowledge that the teachers seek to convey to their students. It is expected that all students who attend a course of English language at this age should learn to communicate in the spoken language, at the level appropriate to their age. Since the lessons should be designed primarily as interactive, so that all students participate equally in them, it means that it will, among other things, have positive effects on their further learning at school.
Elementary students still have a ton of energy, but tend to be more focused than kindergartens. These students are now at school in structured classrooms with lessons, as opposed to the kindergarteners whose day is made up of playing indoors and outdoors. The elementary students are at a stage where they are slowly beginning to think for themselves and many of them think they already know it all.
At this age role-playing is effective, as the students like to see themselves as tiny adults. Playing games where they role-play adult occupations is fun and an easy way to include the target language. The lessons can now also include a competitive aspect as this age group does not shy away from competing with each other.
When planning a lesson for an elementary class, it is all about the balance between energy, brain work and friendly competition. Have a few high energy activities in the lesson but split the room into teams to add a competitive spirit. To balance the high energy parts have some puzzle and quiz activities where individuals can shine and show their skill. A great way to get students to produce the language to each other is to set up role-play situations or make-believe. For example, if you are teaching them shopping vocabulary, set up a small shop in the classroom. You can have each student play the role of cashier, shopper and shop assistant. This is great as not only are they having fun assuming the adult role, they are also seeing how English works in the real world.
Although this age group may seem like they know it all and like to take on adult roles, never forget they are still children so keep all the activities light-hearted and fun. Even though lessons can be more competitive than in kindergarten, keep in mind that the goal is for the students to enjoy their class and have fun while learning English.
Students attending higher grades of elementary school, that is, children aged 11 to 14, should already have a certain level of knowledge of the English language, and the teacher should determine what these skills are, but also perfect them in a way that they follow the school’s curriculum as closely as possible.
The curriculum should also be adjusted to the students’ interests in order to hold the students’ attention during lessons, and through the practice of all language skills (writing, reading, listening and conversation) students will get the necessary security in the knowledge they have acquired. Furthermore, versatility in class activities will not only help with mastering all language skills, but it will awaken the interest in students to learn more and they will be less likely to get bored during the classes because they will be more interesting.
Testing learners should happen at this level, and in accordance with the students’ age, be done in a way that will put each language skill to the test – writing, speaking, reading and listening comprehension.
Juniors
Don’t let the junior age group make you think it is easier to teach older students. It’s not. Teaching this age group has its own challenges. Being a teenager is not an easy task, and with so much changes going on in their lives and their bodies, their confidence is up and down. You will find that your juniors have begun to care about other people’s opinions and how they are seen by others, so make sure activities are comfortable.
The best way to make this lessons for juniors work is to make them relatable. The first lesson will always be awkward no matter what, as the students are just getting to know you and their classmates. So use the first lesson to get to know them. Do this by doing a quiz, or a questionnaire to find out their favorite movies, music and things they do in their free time. Once you have this information, you are able to get to know their world, and they have had a chance to learn about each other, often finding common interests. Now that you know what their interests are, use them to make your future lessons more relevant. If the lesson is structured around a topic they understand or have an interest in, you will more easily keep them engaged.
Not only can you make use of the students’ interests, also make use of popular media channels they use. For example set out an activity where they need to make a snap chat video in English, or write up a good Instagram caption. This will encourage them to use English in their everyday lives and understand various situations that certain language is used in. Keep it fun as always, and never show judgement to something one of the students likes or follows as this can be a huge step backwards in their comfort in the classroom.
Conclusion.
To sum up, children tend to be very energetic and therefore you will need to be prepared to stay on your toes when in class. When teaching young children, it is important to remember that they do not have a driving reason to learn English. Rather they are driven by imagination and it is important to keep this in mind when creating your lessons.
Establish a set routine for each class that is easy for them to learn and understand.
Incorporate fun games and singing into the lesson plan.
Do not overcorrect and use positive reinforcement throughout the class.
Do not shout at them; create a way to get their attention (i.e. rhythmic clapping or a fun rhyme)
Unlike children and adults, teenagers may not be as motivated to learn English. They can view the class as simply another subject that they have to take rather than something they truly wish to learn. Therefore, it is good to build a rapport with your students and try to make your classes as engaging as possible with games. This also means that your students’ level of English will vary according to class and you should tailor your lesson to match the level of each class.
Establish a rapport with your students and get to know them on a personal level.
Play age-appropriate games
Teach age-appropriate slang
Remember that teenagers have started to care more about what others think
Adult learners tend to be the most motivated to learn English as they usually have a reason for learning the language (i.e. for university, their job, etc.). It is important to remember and understand their reasons so that your lessons will focus on those reasons.
Focus on grammar
Provide positive and detailed feedback
Teach idioms, phrases, and slang as well
Keep in mind that you may be teaching people who are older than you. This could create a weird dynamic and so it is important to make the classroom neutral and do not be condescending.
No matter what age you teach, it is important to make the lessons fun and remember your students’ motivation for learning English. When you understand their motivation, your lessons will become more engaging and the students will be more determined to improve their language skills.
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