These slides are redesigned from The Teenage Learner by David Deubelbeiss; A workshop given to high school teachers in a remote area of Vietnam.

1. Teaching Teenagers English
in the 21st Century
Phung Van Huy
School of Foreign Languages, TNU

2. You need some…
warm-up

3. Listen to the song
and fill in the blank

4. Speaking of Teenagers…

5. Speaking of Teenagers…
x

6. Speaking of Teenagers…
x

7. Speaking of Teenagers…
x

8. Speaking of Teenagers…
x
fail

9. The greatest mistake
made by adults is to forget
what it is like to be a child.
~Nick Dawson

10. now…

11. 10 minutes
Close your eyes

12. Once upon a time…

13. When I was a child…

14. Desmond Morris
a zoologist’s perspective

15. 1. Hold me close
2. Put me down
3. Let me go

16. Look back…
Childhood
o a magical period of
freedom
o adult-dependent
o do not expect the child
to be perfect
…
o ‘expert children’
o accept responsibility
o…
Adolescence
o search for new identity
o adult-independent
o rejection of adult links
…
o less willing to accept
physical displays of
affection from their
parents and adult
relatives

17. So what if I'm not
as you expected!
I'm different, I'm not like you.
Is this a reason for
me to be neglected?
I do my own thing;
to me this world is new.
My thoughts and opinions are
not to your liking,
But I love how I am.

18. Words which describe Teens?

19. photos
which describe teens

20. selfie
a photograph that one has taken of
oneself, typically one taken with a
smartphone or webcam and uploaded
to a social media website

21. hip-hop

22. exclusive groups

23. flashmod

24. Group Work

25. What do teenagers want?
The adolescent feels constrained by the
close relationship with parents. The
adolescent wants to break away and
discover a new identity. This desire is
emotional rather than logical.

26. What do teenagers want?
….to escape from the close bond with parents,
she/he wants to retain all the benefits of family
life; regular free meals, laundry, and financial
support. At an emotional level, the adolescent
wants to escape but also have the freedom to
return, at any time, and receive the same level of
affection and support from parents that she/he
received as a child. So, we can say, the adolescent
wants to escape, but not abandon her/his parents.

27. What do teenagers want?
• choose their own clothes and wear
them as they wish.
•choose their own hairstyle.
• choose their own friends.
• choose how they will spend their time.
•choose how they will spend their money.

28. Teens are wrapped up in these issues:

29. However…

30. Teens are efficient
language learners
(Lewis, 2007)

31. Why?

32. They combine
childlike playfulness
with …adult-like
ability to hypothesize
and think critically.

33. Key Assumptions about Teenage Learners
Teenagers seek meaning
and significance.
personalize

34. Key Assumptions about Teenage Learners
Teenagers want to know
about the NOW!
update

35. Key Assumptions about Teenage Learners
Teenagers crave authenticity
and the “true”.
be who you are
and share it!

36. Key Assumptions about Teenage Learners
Teenagers are the ultimate
egotists. ME!
get creative!

37. Key Assumptions about Teenage Learners
Teenagers are wondering
what others are thinking
about them!
Group 'em!

38. What do teenagers need?
-for play and social interaction
-The need for rest
- the need for physical activity
- The need to learn in a tressreduced environment

39. twelve things
to keep in mind when
teaching teenagers
Gary Anderson

40. Use Music!
Teens live through the
feelings provoked by
music. It is a window
to their learning soul.
A Dozen Dos – Gary Anderson

41. Use Current Material!
Teens want to be hip.
They love anything
new and personally
relevant.
A Dozen Dos – Gary Anderson

42. Use Team Work!
Teens are “hard wired” for
relationships. They thrive
on projects, peer
interaction and group
work..
A Dozen Dos – Gary Anderson

43. Use Acting!
Teens want to express
themselves. Role playing
allows them to express all
their inner, conflicting
feelings in a safe manner.
A Dozen Dos – Gary Anderson

44. Use Choice!
Teens are trying to be
independent. Giving them
some choice and control
motivates them.
A Dozen Dos – Gary Anderson

45. Use what they know!
Teens know LOTS and have
diverse experiences. Use
their interests and
passions in the class
content!
A Dozen Dos – Gary Anderson

46. Use a quick pace!
Teens actually have shorter
attention spans than kids!
Keep changing things up!
A Dozen Dos – Gary Anderson

47. Use Activity!
Teens body’s are changing
and they need to
experience and practice
their new “physical” self!
A Dozen Dos – Gary Anderson

48. Use Proactive Class Control!
Teens want a teacher in
control but will reject any
authority. Use positive
behavior management!
A Dozen Dos – Gary Anderson

49. Use L1 at times!
Teens will respond to L1
discipline and are mature
enough to “switch gears” and
it can help misunderstanding.
A Dozen Dos – Gary Anderson

50. Use Games!
Teens are highly
competitive in the sense
they want to show off. Let
them show off!
A Dozen Dos – Gary Anderson

51. Use their “desire”!
Teens want to express
themselves. Projects,
presentations, posters
etc…can allow them to
personalize the learning.
A Dozen Dos – Gary Anderson

52. Lesson Ideas

53. FINAL THOUGHTS FROM TEACHERS OF TEENS
• Praise them!
• Respect their views!
• Remember their stories!
• Show interest in their lives!
• Utilize their special talents!
• Love all your students equally!
• Never criticize their appearance!
• Be a positive model for them to follow!
• Encourage self-expression and creativity!
• Give them choices and decision-making power!

54. You need to ADAPT
yourself

56. "I Wanted To Change The World"
When I was a young man, I wanted to change the world.
I found it was difficult to change the world, so I tried to
change my nation.
When I found I couldn't change the nation, I began to focus
on my town. I couldn't change the town and as an older man,
I tried to change my family.
Now, as an old man, I realize the only thing I can change is
myself, and suddenly I realize that if long ago I had changed
myself, I could have made an impact on my family. My family
and I could have made an impact on our town. Their impact
could have changed the nation and I could indeed have
changed the world.

58. References & Sources
TEACHING TEENAGERS ENGLISH by Gary Anderson
http://www.cambridge.org/elt/englishinmind/teacher_resources/teaching_teenagers.htm
Edutainment in Teaching English to Teens by Deborah Healey
https://sites.google.com/site/dosedutainment2011
Challenging Adolescents by Nick Dawson
http://www.pearsonelt.com/21stcenturylearning
The Teenage Learner by David Deubelbeiss
http://eflclassroom.ning.com