Reflection about Young Learners (Jorge Quinaluiza)
Talking about young learners I would like to say that young learners are enthusiastic students that want to show understanding to the teacher even if they are wrong or wright. However, they show much interest in learning a foreign language when the class is very interested, funny or difficult. At the same time, they can be easy demotivated when the classes are not well performed. That’s why teachers should adapt materials that are not too long. It must be funny colourful to catch young learner’s attention.
Describing the three groups: Young learners (children ages 5-12), Teenagers (ages 13-18+) and Adults (professionals, college students). There are many differences between them. For example, children from age 5-12 To Brunet the essences of creativity out how to use what you already know in order to go beyond what you already think. In a relation to this thinking and according to me young children learn in a natural way like playing, discovering, imitating without taking care the unique objective of learning a new language. In the other side, teenagers from ages 13-18 attempt to demonstrate their personal identity demonstrating tendencies that they have to. Finally, adults are more formal they a have a specific reason to acquire a new language. They are more interested in real stories, experiences or plans for the future. The grammar must be well structured focusing on the objective that they need.
On my experience of working with young learners with special needs, I would suggest that we have to encourage students to give the first place to special students to show that they are important. Special student enthusiasm when partners estimate them. They try harder than ever to make partners believe that it is true. The teacher must give the first opportunity or when they want without showing sarcasm or despite when their actions are not right.
Finally, I like to say that if we work with young learners we have to be patients. Students learning to depend on the creativity of the teacher and how he plans to make the class interesting and enjoyable.
Jorge Ivan Quinaluiza Diaz
Hello George, Good task I think as you,I believe that the young learners is a funny stage to teach and the same time is hard because these students are restless and at the same time are enthusiastics and also as teachers we need to do a funny and dinamic class because they got bored easily.
ReplyDeleteThey learn easily but they don`t like many activities like write and write on their notebooks or books they like learn playing for them is it a easily way to learn a new language.
As teachers we need to work with many kind of students specially with students that have special needs because we need to adapt our syllabus for them.
Hi Daniela,
DeleteYou mention adapting lessons for students of special needs. Any ideas or suggestions for how to do this?
I believe as teachers we have to adapt and supplement our activities and also the kind of material that we`re going to use in the classroom and the most important I think is to make assessment accommodations for the students with these needs. In conclusion we need to have an Inclusive education it means education of all students, because all learners are equal in the learning process.
DeleteYes, it is truth young learners show interest to learn a foreign language in this case English. I agree the class has to be interactive, fun, interesting, etc., so young learners will learn English in a good way, and of course a teacher has to be patience and creative too.
ReplyDeleteHello, A teacher to the moment to build your syllabus must address topic, objective, audience methodology, strategy and results. According to the topic it will focus taking account the level and needs of everyone, if you work with children from 5-12 that is primary , the methodology employed will be based in games, songs, puzzles, corsswods that draw attention of the leraners being that the best way to encourage and engaging toward significant knowledge. As the young adults manage another type of interests I will suggest presentations using poscards, jigsaw strategy , which give good results.
ReplyDeleteHello Jorge.
ReplyDeleteWhen you say: “Finally, I like to say that if we work with young learners we have to be patients. Students learning to depend on the creativity of the teacher and how he plans to make the class interesting and enjoyable”
It is true because teachers must be patient, creative and make the class enjoyable. How we can get it in classes? According to my personal opinion I believe that we have to give learners enough confidence to speak reducing the levels of difficulty and they will feel less pressure. Besides, don’t interrupt them when speak even if they have mistakes because it could be frustrating, let them feel free without interruptions. Finally, don’t lose your control because sadly, teacher sometimes lacks patient.
Hi Wilson,
DeleteGood question and good points made. One thing that helped my teaching is that I started paying more attention to planning my lessons from the "fun learning" point of view. I usually look at my activities and make sure there is some learning objective being met, but I also visualize it from the students' point of view and ask "Is this fun? Is it meaningful? Is this something interesting that students might like to do even if they weren't in a classroom?" When I really make an effort to incorporate more student talk time, more projects and DOING exercises, more creative thinking and more variety in general in my lessons, I have a really fun time, and this results in me having more patience and tolerance with my students. I love the lessons that go by so fast because I'm having fun not only teaching but also learning with my students. It's one thing I love the most about teaching - interacting with students, seeing the work they produce, the questions they ask (and then how we try to answer those questions), etc.
Hi Jorge,
ReplyDeleteYour reflection gives some good, specific exercises for working with young learners. You also mention working with children with special needs, which is something very important to think about (and difficult - there are entire master's programs dealing with just that one subject). Of course, the "easy" answer for working with special needs children is that the teacher should always think of the lesson from the point of view of the child, and should adjust accordingly. But in practice this is difficult and time consuming and the teacher has to dedicate a lot of patience and know how to the topic to do it correctly.
Great topic. If anyone in the class has experience working with children of special needs it would be interesting to her their opinion/experience. Which also brings me to the idea that teachers should also work together and be each other's resource. Share lessons, strategies, experiences, and brainstorm solutions together....