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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