age in language learning

AGE What differences does age make to language

learning?

People of different ages have different needs, competences and cognitives skills

There are a number of commonly held beliefs about age

Faster Unmotivated Barriers Experience

Young children Respond to meaning learn indirectly rather than

directly Their understanding comes just

not from explanation Need for attention Keen to talk about themselves Have limited attention span

The teacher encourage their students to get information from a variety of sources.

Be flexible enough

Adolescents Teenagers seem to be less

motivated,lively and humorous than adults.

Identity Disruptive Problems from

outside school

If they are engaged they have a great capacity to learn.

Material relevant and involving

Adult learners Whole range of life

experiences. Expectations about

the learning process.

Tend to be more disciplined.

Are able to sustain a level of motivation.

Learner differences Aptitude

LEARNER DIFFRENCES APTITUDE

Some students are better at learning laguages tan others…

1950’s & 1960’s

GOOD LEARNERS CHARACTERISTICS

LEARNING STYLES

LANGUAGE LEVELS

THE PLATEAU EFFECT

METHODOLOGY

LANGUAGE

TOPICS

What to do about individual differences

How?

• students with different learning styles

MOTIVATION

What is motivation?

Motivation is some kind of internal drive which pushes someone to do things in order to achieve something.

extrinsic intrinsic

Extrinsic motivation

Outside

factors

intrinsic motivation

Inside the individual

Sources of motivation

People who are close to students

The teacher

The teacher´s responsibilities

Short- and long- term goals

Learning environment

The teacher´s responsibilities

exercises to keep them engaged