Teaching Teenagers English

by Sayed
(Egypt)

I'm afraid I'm bothering you by my general questions (How to cook a chicken?, How to teach a large class?)

Regarding the last one, I'd like to say;

- The class is 50 minutes long.
- The students are high school students (15-18 years old).
- It is a government school and most students don't care or are lagging behind.

So how to make teaching ESL fun and desirable?
Thank you.

Hi Sayed,

You are not bothering me at all. Do not worry. Just try to include as much detail as possible in your question so that I can give you the best answer possible.

Here are some things you could do.

1) Do a survey or questionnaire where people tell you their favorite things, interesting hobbies, etc. This could help you make the classes more interesting for them. If you see that half the class loves travelling, try to apply some of the grammar to travelling.

2) Teenagers are tricky but not too tricky. The key is for you to be relaxed and prepared. They will feed off your energy so if you are nervous or unprepared they will know it.

3) Read this article. It might help you explain why your students "seem" to be lagging behind.

Teenagers: Speaking: Why Teenagers Avoid Using English

4) Teenage classes are not really harder or worse then adults, it is just that teenagers are not afraid to express disapproval where as adults will hide it from you.

5) Consider the possibility of working in smaller groups...to do a presentation or activity. Get the groups smaller.

6) Try to see what they want to be learning. Open the floor for debate and gather information.

I think the biggest concern that I have is that you see the students as the problem...they aren't. 9 times out of 10 it is us, the teacher, which needs to change something or adapt. Think of it as a challenge. You need to find something that gets them interested and listening and participating.

The problem is, that there is no ONE way to teach a class. I would do lots of different things in each class (as you said it is 50 minutes...that is very short).

If you have 5 activities planned
the time will fly!

What have you been doing with them? Can you give me an example of a class you have done with them? (Leave a comment below).

For example...This is what I might do.

First 5 minutes: Go around the class and do short answer questions. Divide the class into two groups and get them in a circle or the two groups facing one another (not just all facing the front).

You could have two plastic cups...and for each correct answer they get a paper clip in the cup. This is one cup for each team, so it fosters team work...competition etc.

Then I would check the homework quickly. Make sure you can review the homework in 5 minutes and orally. Make it quick and painless but do it, or else they will think homework is a waste of time.

For 15 minutes work with the new topic or grammar point for the day. Be creative but prepared. If you are 100% prepared with another activity just in case, you will do well!

Then do a listening exercise that incorporates the new topic, grammar or vocabulary. Read a short paragraph aloud (twice) and then ask simple questions to each person. Do the paperclip game again.

(Be careful though that the other students don't get bored. Keep people on their toes by randomly asking students what the other student has just said...

Teacher: What is the author’s name?
Student1: The authors name is Bob Tower.
Teacher to another student: What did Student 1 say?
Student 2: He said that the authors name is Bob Tower.

I would finish with a game. Play bingo, cards, 20 questions...anything that is high energy and fun.

I think that is about it Sayed. What do you think? Are you happy with your Answer?

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