Teaching teenagers – how to get their attention and keep it

Summary

This video offers practical strategies for teaching teenagers by keeping them engaged and attentive. It emphasizes the importance of understanding students' interests to motivate them and suggests activities like competitive quizzes to learn about students while familiarizing them with the coursebook. The script advises on providing clear task instructions and varying activities to maintain focus. It also discusses how to handle distractions by using additional resources or games, and the value of being flexible with lesson plans to regain students' attention and help them engage with the lesson once again.

Takeaways

• 😀 Get students' attention and keep it by incorporating their interests and preferences into lessons.
• 😀 Start the course with a competitive quiz to learn about students and familiarize them with the coursebook.
• 😀 Use teams and a spokesperson in the quiz format to engage students in the learning process.
• 😀 Ask questions about the coursebook to help students become familiar with the content and structure.
• 😀 Make a note of students' preferences and incorporate these subjects into future lessons to keep them engaged.
• 😀 Teenagers have shorter attention spans, so it's important to minimize distractions and provide clear task instructions.
• 😀 Be explicit with task instructions to ensure students understand who they are working with, how long they have, and what they need to do.
• 😀 Vary activities to keep students motivated, such as using different tones for vocabulary drills or integrating technology into lessons.
• 😀 Before reading about a real person or place, have students find facts on their phones to engage them in the topic.
• 😀 When lessons go off track, adapt by using additional resources, like puzzles or games, to regain students' attention.
• 😀 Change direction when necessary, such as telling a relevant story or getting students to work with new partners to re-engage them.

Q & A

Why is it important to understand students' likes and dislikes when teaching teenagers?

Knowing students' interests helps keep them motivated and engaged in the lesson. By incorporating their preferences into the activities, teachers can make lessons more relatable and enjoyable.

How can a competitive quiz help at the start of a course?

A competitive quiz helps teachers get to know their students' interests and familiarize them with the course structure. It also serves as an icebreaker to make students more comfortable and engaged in the class.

What are some examples of questions to ask during the competitive quiz?

Examples of questions include: 'How many units are there?', 'What starts on page 125?', and other questions related to the content of the coursebook.

What is the purpose of asking students to choose the most interesting unit during the quiz?

This encourages students to reflect on their interests and gives the teacher valuable insight into topics that may be more engaging for the class, which can then be incorporated into future lessons.

How can teachers keep teenagers focused during activities?

Teachers can keep teenagers focused by providing clear and explicit task instructions, such as who they are working with, how long the task will take, and whether there is a time limit. This reduces confusion and ensures students stay on task.

Why is varying activities important when teaching teenagers?

Teenagers have shorter attention spans, so varying activities keeps them engaged and prevents boredom. Changing up the format of lessons helps maintain interest and motivates students to stay focused.

What are some examples of ways to vary activities during a lesson?

Examples include drilling vocabulary in different ways, such as changing the tone of your voice or asking students to whisper the vocabulary. Another idea is to have students research facts on their phones before reading a text.

How can teachers adapt when students aren't engaged or a lesson isn't going as planned?

When lessons aren't going well, teachers can introduce alternative activities, such as puzzles or games, or even share a personal story related to the topic. These changes can help regain students' attention and refocus the class.

What role does task timing play in maintaining attention during lessons?

Providing a clear time limit for tasks helps students stay on track and focused. When students know they have a set amount of time to complete an activity, it creates a sense of urgency and keeps them engaged.

Why is it important to adjust the pace or direction of the lesson if students are distracted or struggling?

Teenagers often need breaks or changes in pace to stay engaged. Adjusting the lesson when you notice signs of disengagement or confusion helps re-establish focus and keeps the class productive.