M.A. LIDIJA ELLIOTT УДК 81`242(811.

111)
St. Mary College Монографска студија
Примљен: 22.01.2015
Одобрен: 11.02.2015

TEACHING ENGLISH TO ADULT LEARNERS

Summary: Teaching English language to adult learners can be incredibly rewarding,

but incredibly challenging too. The world outside the classroom makes demands on all (four)
language skills and the adult student is anxious to acquire a “survival” capacity or communi-
cative competence”.1 In addition, many students will demand to see and spell what they
heard and it seems pointless to refuse them this satisfaction. Adults have a way of learning
what they want and when they want to learn it. Communicative competence includes the
ability to have a conversation or communicate with a native speaker in a real-life situation,
with stress on communication of ideas rather than on only accuracy of language form or
knowledge of grammar rules. Hence students can have a meaningful communication which
means that students are processing content that is relevant, purposeful, interesting and enga-
ging.
Key words: teaching, English, adults, communication, motivation, goals

Teaching Adults
There is an art to teaching English to adults. Some skeptics, generalizing
from their own experiences, might be doubtful of any educating or successful langu-
age learning after the age of twenty. The”you can’t teach an old dog “mentality is a
much a part of us our belief in the limitless educability of youngsters. Adults can
learn and in fact, as Edward L. Thorndike pointed out in 1927 study” the ability to
learn declines only very slowly slightly after the age of eighteen”.2 More recent
research suggest that the basic capacity for learning remains essentially unimpaired
throughout the life span though the speed of leaning appears to decline very
slightly.3 However Second language acquisition is troubled with the study of the
way in which an individual becomes able to use one or more languages which is
different from his first language. This process can take place in a natural setting or
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1
This is seen by most language teaching experts as the goal of ESL classes: the ability to communicate
functionally in the language for a different purposes, including academic, professional, and social.
2
Edward L. Thorndake and others, Adult Learning. New York, 1928, p.59.
3
Irving Lorge, “The adult Learner” in Adult Education: Theory and Method, Chicago, 1963, pp.1-9.
M.A. Lidija Elliott, Настава енглеског језика за одрасле особе
through formal classroom instruction, and, although the degree of proficiency that
can be attained is a controversial topic, it can start at childhood or during the adult
age (Krashen, 1982).4 Also ‘the highest purpose in teaching of languages may per-
haps be said to be access to the best thoughts and institutions of a foreign nation, its
literature , culture-in short the spirit of the nation in the widest sense of the world”5
A child acquires a second language more easily than an adult. And as Collier
(1988), expresses that successful language acquisition depends on the learner’s age.6
Child is often able to acquire a second language without any formal instruction and
just being in English speaking country and being surrounded with English language.
An adult, on the other hand, may with great effort achieve only limited mastery of a
language, and he will probably require the formal instruction of the teacher in the
classroom.
As the child moves toward adulthood, may lose facility in acquiring a langua-
ge. The older child may require formal classroom instruction in order to acquire
better command of language. Though many of the following techniques in language
instruction may apply as well to children as to adults we are only concerned with
their use for teaching adults.
In order to be a successful adult educator we have to understand how adults
learn best. An adult is a complete person. ‘Adults have special needs and
requirements as learners. Below, is a common list of the common learning characte-
ristics of adult language and literacy learners:
Adult Language and Literacy Learning Principles are:
1) Adult learners are goal-driven.
2) Language and literacy are social processes that involve interaction with others.
3) Language and literacy development require risk taking.
4) Language and literacy develop when the target language is slightly above the current
level of proficiency of the user.
5) Language and literacy development require focus, engagement and practice.
6) Language and literacy are multi-dimensional and require different kinds of
interactions with different kinds of genres.
7) Language and literacy develop through interactions with tasks that require cognitive
involvement.
8) Language and literacy develop more deeply if skills are connected to an overall to-
pic.’7

That is, adult student has within a capacity for dealing with environment and
for providing for student’s needs either directly or by manipulating others.
Consequently student is self-directed. Student has a self –image which reflects the
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4
Krashen, S. (1982). Principles and Practice in Second Language Acquisition. Oxford: Pergamon
Press.
5
Jespersen London: Allen &Anwin ,Ltd., 1904 quoted from 12th Impression , 1961, p/9
6
Collier, V. P. (1988). The Effect of Age on Acquisition of a Second Language for School. New Focus.
The National Clearinghouse for Bilingual Education. No: 2, Winter: 1987-1988.
7
Taken from Spruck-Wrigley, Heidi and Jim Powrie. 2002. What Does It Take for Adults to Learn?
Originally developed for CyberStep.
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 Култура полиса, год. XII (2015), бр. 26, стр. 131-137
sum of his experiences. Adult student reacts to new situations according to his own
self-expectations. Because student has its own “character”, adult student has less
freedom of response than a child who has yet to establish an identity.8
It is wisest to accept this description of adulthood for the second language
classroom generally and with some reservation. After all, definitions of adulthood
will vary accordingly to cultural backgrounds. Many ESL teachers are surprised by
the fact that native culture of students has enormous influence in the classroom.
Adult students come with their own cultural view of:
1. What a teacher should say and how will a teacher behaive.
2. What should happen in the classroom.
3. How the English language should be taught.
For example in many oriental cultures, the teacher in general is highly respec-
ted individual and there is immense social difference between students and teacher.
In other cultures there is less distance between students and teachers. Dealing with
different culture may mean that teacher may have to adjust some of behavior in or-
der not to offend students and gain their respect as their teacher. It also may mean
that teacher will have to clarify to some of students the differences in the cultural
expectations and encourage them to move towards the norm of the society in which
they are currently living.’ Therefore, the suggestions which follow must be imple-
mented judiciously and with the cultural background of specific students in mind.9

The Adult Self-Directivity

If we can consider most adult learners to be self-directive10 the teacher of an
adult class need not to be authority’s manipulator. The teacher can help the student
to define his language needs and then to satisfy them. Take the case of a banker who
wants to pass a trade examination. Student’s motivations for studying English are
clear to student, and, ideally the teacher should help him to develop his language
skills within the context of the language demands of his trade. Reece & Walker
(1997), express that motivation is a key factor in the second language learning pro-
cess. They put a stress that a less able student who is highly motivated can achieve
greater success than the more intelligent student who is not well motivated. Someti-
mes students may come highly motivated and the task of the teacher is only to main-
tain motivation of the students. The task of the teacher is to maximize the motivation
of their students.11
To sum it up, the adult learner, unlike the child, usually knows why he is
studying a language and what his goal is. The teacher must respond to this motivati-
on by preparing contextualization language instruction or, if the orientation of this
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8
Frederick Perls, Gestalt Psychology Verbatim. Lafayette, Calif., 1969.
9
Ray C. Grahan &Mark M. Walsh, Adult Education ESL Teachers Guide, Adult Education Center,
Texas A&I University KingsVille, Texas, 1996, pp. 9
10
Malcolm S. Knowes, The Modern Practice of Adult Education, New York, 1970
11
Reece, I & Walker, S. (1997). Teaching, Training and Learning. A Practical Guide. (Third Ed.). Great
Britain: Business Education Publishers Limited
133
M.A. Lidija Elliott, Настава енглеског језика за одрасле особе
contextualization is not a general class interest, individualizing instruction. Since the
student is aware of what he wants from the course, he is most motivated by instruc-
tional activities which are immediately applicable to his own situation.

The Optimal Classroom and Learning Climate

Once the teacher has helped the student define his motivations for learning
and has begun planning to contextualization his language instruction for the needs of
his students, he must develop the most suitable climate for learning. Educators disa-
gree as how the best climate for learning may be most affectively achieved. The
usual classroom with students sitting in rows is acceptable and workable but not
ideal environment12. Some would suggest substituting comfortable chairs for desks,
informal conversation for classroom procedure in effect, moving the classroom into
the living room etc. Others would suggest that because adults experienced the school
system as children, they expect authoritarianism when they return to school as
adults. It would seem that the best climate of learning must be achieved through
compromise of these two positions and good sense of timing.
The strictly controlling teacher will intimidate language learning because he
denies free exchange in favour of rules of procedure. But the opposite extreme, the
“living room” atmosphere may be equally intimidating, because it is too casual.
Initially, eliminating regular classroom procedure may be more destructive than
helpful, because it puts additional burden of socializing upon an adult who wishes to
focus on learning. Generally, adults, who are highly motivated, will complain if the
ritual of the classroom is too informal. Also teachers should see themselves as edu-
cators, facilitators or just simple as helpers. As Knowles (1970) said: ‘The adults
self-concept of self-directivity is in direct conflict with the traditional practice of the
teacher telling to student what to learn. It is even in conflict with the social
philosophy that society has right to impose its idea about what he needs to learn on
him.’13
The danger of the authorities’ position is that it does not allow for sufficient
class response. The danger of the” living room “approach is that it is artificially im-
posed by a teacher on a group that may be unable to function effectively in it; and
because it is artificial it also may inhibit freedom of response. The classroom should
be dynamic, and after normal procedure has been established the students will gene-
rate the most relaxing, most stimulating classroom atmosphere if they are allowed
the freedom to do so. And the good teacher recognizes when the time is right.
At first, routine classroom procedure gives the language student a sense of
security in a situation which may be somewhat uncomfortable for him; it provides
him with a stable framework for response. Later as he begins to feel a part of the
class (as a opposed to being an isolated student), student will express preferences as
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12
James J. Asher , PhD. 1977 Sky Oaks Production, Inc. Los Gatos, California 95031
13
Knowles, S. Malcom, The Modern Practice of Adult Education, 1970, Association Press,291 Broad-
way, New York, N.Y.
134
 Култура полиса, год. XII (2015), бр. 26, стр. 131-137
a member of a group. The gifted teacher uses this unique group personality in stri-
king a balance between strict authoritarianism and complete informality.
Assuming that you are confined to the limitations of a classroom teaching si-
tuation, you still can help students to feel comfortable. You can do that by showing a
genuine interest in your student, begin by learning their names. Be aware that each
of your students has a unique wealth of experience and knowledge which, quite
happily for the language teacher, they are anxious to communicate. Therefore,
whenever possible move your exercise from academic textbook questions to more
personal questions. Show genuine interest for your students.
The variety of the adult’s experience and knowledge should allow the English
language teacher to use a variety of techniques. The teacher can use common situa-
tions for instruction since the adult is capable of role-plays and of stimulating real
life experience. It is a good practice to supply adults with role-play frames within a
wide range of situation contexts, and based on language features which have been
taught. The adult student can translate their own personal experiences and personal-
ity into the idiom of his new language. And a oft-quoted Chinese proverb: Tell me
and I’ll forget; show me and I may remember; involve me and I’ll understand is
true.
The physical set-up of the classroom itself should express a personalized ins-
tructional approach. The teacher should make different desk arrangements to suit his
immediate instructional objectives. Desks in the classroom do not need to be arran-
ged in the traditional regularity of rows, with the teacher as head. Instead, they might
be arranged in a circle or semi-circle with the teacher as a part- and with no back or
front or side. In this way, each student may feel that he is a necessary part of unified
class. Other teaching situation may suggest smaller groupings of desks of four etc.
Remove classroom items which may produce negative associations in the
minds of students. Even a teacher’s desks with a heavy arm chair for example, may
be associated in the mind of a student with authority and repression. Always ask
yourself: Do they have a place a language class whose purpose is active communica-
tion by students?
In varying the structure of the lass it is sometimes wise to place the adult stu-
dent in the role of teacher. Let students give each other use in exercises. Allow stu-
dents to develop different role-plays. Encourage students to enter into real commu-
nication in problem solving exercises.
Also it is wise to allow the students to assist in the diagnosing of their own
needs; it is also wise to allow them to assist in the evaluation of their own and other
students’ performances. Furthermore, it is sometimes useful to supply the adult with
a copy of an examination and let them create an examination questions. These
questions could be then be compiled and given to students as an exam. Experience
seems to indicate that adult students do be pleased about tests as objective measures
of their knowledge. Certainly the student, with the teacher in consultation, should be
directed to the self evaluation of what they are capable. A language test is only one
measure, and perhaps the last accurate, but may be a useful motivational tool for
adults.

135
M.A. Lidija Elliott, Настава енглеског језика за одрасле особе
Problems in Adult Learning Instruction
Perhaps the greatest dangers to an adult language instruction are the simplifi-
cations and gradations contained in most levels of second language instruction. But
we must be careful that our simplifications and gradations are in language and not in
content. We, also, must be particularly careful in the selection of situations for con-
versational teaching and reading items, not to insult the intelligence or feelings of
our students. Adult students appreciate real adult situations and context and adult
reading material. ESL teachers must be sensitive not only to students’ limitations in
the language but also to the mature demands of their own self images. We must be
careful to make our teaching materials to the maturity of our students.
Finally a word should be said about the complicated inter-weaving a language
with a culture. It is extremely important to realize that learning a second language is
not a remaking process. What we intend to give the student is the language to com-
municate with and, if possible, to appreciate their new culture. We are not replacing
their own language or students own culture. We must be very sensitive to students
feelings of estrangement of or “anomie” in their new language. Therefore, exercises
which presumptuously extract religious values are to be avoided. Whenever evalua-
tion or opinion is required, let the students respond freely. For example, an example
drill contextualized to the English scene might not be consistent with the experience
of many students: For example, on every Sunday morning I go to church.
Since it might not be consistent with the experiences of some students, it se-
ems pointless to drill it in repetition or to insist it as answer to: “What did you do on
Sunday morning?” And it might be offensive to students who have different religion
then their teachers.
There are many different types of classes such as program for language skill
program, bi-lingual program for particular language groups etc. Some programs
have classes daily, other two or three night a week, every day etc. Most classes have
up to 15 students, a size small enough to allow for the individualize attention which
language learning requires.
It is also difficult to generalize about the type of adult who enters the variety
of language programs. These adults have different motivations and goals. In a pro-
gram for house-wives one is likely to find students who attend classes as a means of
making a friend. In many evening programs one is likely to find people who are
very tired after a long day’s work and their attendance may suffer. There will be
students who have been number of years in United Kingdom and who have been
embarrassed by their English. These adults may feel a growing isolation from their
children who are quickly adopting English ways and isolation from their neighbors
and other people who do not belong to their cultural group.
There will be different styles of learning. Some students may require
homework in order to feel that they are learning something. Others may not have
time to do it. Some adult learners due to hearing loss will find it very difficult to
listen and difficult to pronounce words, other adult learners might find it embarras-
sing or humiliating to repeat after teacher. Some adult learners will find games and
songs amusing and others may find them childish and a waste of time.
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 Култура полиса, год. XII (2015), бр. 26, стр. 131-137

Summery:
Teaching English to adults is a real art. Specific approaches must relate to the
individual cultural background of the students. Foremost among principles of adult
learning is the belief that adults enquire considerably self-directivity in all pursuit
including educational ones. The controls of second language teaching must not inhi-
bit the natural, self-directive capacity of the adult. Also if teacher wants to be suc-
cessful adult, ESL teacher needs correct student assessment and evaluation. It is very
important that student is properly placed otherwise they will very quickly lose their
interest in studying English language and they will soon give up. If the material you
present in your classroom is too easy, students will become bored but if the material
is too hard they will not return for the second class. Besides, it is very important to
establish positive relationship with your students. Adult students come with many
fears into the classroom, they may feel they are too old to learn English, some of
students had negative experiences with school or they may have left their schools or
universities as dropouts. Therefore it is very important that teacher establish a
friendly and positive environment for their students. In order to create an effective
learning environment of highly motivated students, teacher needs strong interperso-
nal and social interaction. Even though students fear level is very high, it can be
broken with teacher positive attitude, with a teacher’s friendly smile and pleasant
small talk.

References:
1. Asher, J.James , PhD. (1977) Learning another language through actions: the complete
teacher’s guidebook, Sky Oaks Production, Inc. Los Gatos, California 95031, pp.311
2. Collier, V. P. (1988). “The Effect of Age on Acquisition of a Second Language for Scho-
ol. New Focus”. The National Clearinghouse for Bilingual Education. No: 2, Winter:
1987-1988.
3. Grahan C. Ray &Walsh M. Mark,(1996)” Adult Education ESL Teachers Guide”,Adult
Education Center, Texas A&I University KingsVille, Texas, pp. 9
4. Frederick Perls,(1969), “Gestalt Psychology Verbatim”. Lafayette, Calif.
5. Knowes S. Malcom,(1970) “The Modern Practice of Adult Education”, New York
6. Krashen, S. (1982). “Principles and Practice in Second Language Acquisition”. Oxford:
Pergamon Press.
7. Jespersen, London: Allen &Unwin ,Ltd., 1904 quotes from 12th Impression , 1961, p/9
8. Lorge, I.(1963) “The adult Learner” in Adult Education: Theory and Method”, Chica-
go, pp.1-9.
9. Spruck-Wrigley, Heidi & Jim Powrie. 2002. “What Does It Take for Adults to Learn?”
Originally developed for CyberStep.
10. Reece, I & Walker, S. (1997). “Teaching, Training and Learning. A Practical Guide”.
(Third Ed.). Great Britain: Business Education Publishers Limited
11. Thorndake L.Edward and others,(1928). “Adult Learning.” New York, p.59.

137