How to Teach English to Teenagers

Teenagers have a reputation for being difficult to motivate. Subject matter like English is not a priority on a teenager's to-do list. Engaging teenagers to learn the details of the English language is done best by allowing them to take control and catering to the natural egocentricity of being a teen. This strategy grabs their attention by offering advice on how to be an attractive person and giving them an intrinsic desire to learn.

Instructions

1. Introducing English as Cool

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  Explain to the teens that English is not just about learning how to spell words and where to put the punctuation. These things are important because they are part of a greater issue: the issue of being cool by being smart. Teenagers are completely wrapped up in their worlds and are mainly concerned with how they appear to their peers. 

  

  
• 2   Make a list on the board of what the teenagers consider to be the characteristics of an attractive, likable person. Guide them by asking what type of things they find appealing in other people. Ask what makes them admire or want to emulate another person. The list will likely contain items like good-looking, smart, money, successful, trendy, nice, popular, fashionable or strong.
• 3 Read the list and point out that the characteristics describe successful people who have some degree of learning. Explain that people who lead these successful lives present themselves in a way that people will know they are not dumb. Tell them that even a fashion model has to be able to speak and present herself in a manner that will engage people intellectually and emotionally. Rappers and songwriters have to use English skills to create songs that are catchy and will sell. 
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HOW TO TEACH ENGLISH TO SMALL KIDS

If you are trying to teach English to small kids, the good news is children are incredibly adapted to learning languages, and pick up new words, phrases and grammar structures easily. The bad news is that kids have a lot of energy and a shorter attention span than adults, so you will struggle to get them to sit and study. However, you can use the kids' energy to your advantage and engage them with games, songs and activities that will help them learn while having fun.

Step 1

Immerse the kids in the English language. Children have an advantage over adults because they rapidly pick up new words from conversation around them. Create a productive learning environment by exposing kids to English through classroom conversation, age-appropriate DVDs and videos.

Step 2

Use music and songs to help teach small kids English. According to Super Simple Songs: "Young learners pick up vocabulary, grammatical structures and the rhythm of the language simply by doing what they already love to do...sing[ing]." Use songs to teach numbers, the alphabet, body parts and other words requiring memorization.

Step 3

Use motions and gestures during the lesson to reinforce learning. Action further enhances the child's ability to remember by adding a physical association to the word, and it helps small kids use up energy so they do not get fidgety or distracted.

Step 4

Build an interactive environment for the children. "Transitions Abroad" advises teachers to: "Have them standing up and sitting down, weave games and dramatic play and singing into your lessons. Have the children take turns helping you prepare or carry out the activity or project." This helps the kids stay focused and offers additional opportunities for language learning as they follow directions, learn the rules for games and communicate about the activities they are doing.

Step 5

Ask the children to take charge by having them lead activities such as Pictionary, charades, and hangman, and matching games to teach grammar, vocabulary and verb tenses. Allowing children to demonstrate their learning will build confidence and give them real-life language skills. Team games build conversational skills as students communicate with each other in the course of the game.