Bertha, Minnesota TESOL Online & Teaching English Jobs

This unit has taught me that one of the most important things about a teacher student relationship is motivation. The teacher must have the motivation to persist with a student that is struggling, but most importantly the student must be motivated to learn at all times. Unless the teacher is providing clear and exciting content to the lesson, with praise when it is necessary and suggestions when needed, the student is more than likely to lose interest and therefore absorb less information. I have also learnt that it is important to be aware of the cultural background of your students in order to not put them in embarrassing or uncomfortable situations. This unit has also highlighted the difference in having adult and young learner students, and also the motivations they might have for wanting to learn English. These can range from wanting to better their grades in school, widening career prospects, being able to communicate with colleagues/ friends/ family members or just having an interest in the language. The unit has made me aware that when teaching adults they may already have an idea of what the lesson should be like due to them having been through multiple schooling systems, however young learners tend to be more open to different styles of lessons and teaching. I am now more aware of the fact that adults tend to be more anxious when it comes to speaking a new language whereas young learners often have less inhibitions. This has been a very informative unit.