LEARNER CHARACTERISTICS

AGE/MATURITY

Maturity involves becoming grown up physically, mentally and emotionally.

Children, teenagers and adults have different levels of maturity, which means they l
in different ways. Here are some of the main differences in maturity that influence
language learning.

Children Teenagers Adults

Need to move Starting to keep still for longer Able to keep still
periods but still need to move periods
Can concentrate for shorter Concentration developing Can concentrate
periods (short attention span) periods
Learn through experience and Beginning to learn in abstract Can learn in mo
doing ways, i.e. through thinking, as
well as experiencing
Are not very able to control and Beginning to control and plan Usually able to c
plan their own behavior their own behavior their own behavi
Are not afraid of making May worry about what others May not be so w
mistakes or taking risks think of them mistakes or take
Are not aware of themselves Sometimes uncomfortably Aware of thems
and/or their actions aware of themselves and/or their actions
actions
Pay attention to meaning in Pay attention to meaning and Can pay attentio
language increasingly to form meaning in lang
Have limited experience of life Beginning to increase their Have experienc
experience of life
Developing cognitive skills Cognitive skills generally Have mature co
believed to be developed at
around age 15
Motivation to learn language is Motivation varies considerably Motivation often
part of general motivation to and may not be fixed or may be controlled
communicate and learn absent
(source: Williams et al, The TKT Course, pp.73-4)

Remember that the descriptions are generalisations

that show likely, but not fixed, characteristics.
But from looking at these differences we can see
earn

for longer

for longer

re abstract ways

ontrol and plan

or
illing to make
risks
elves and/or their

n to form and
uage
e of life

gnitive skills

conscious and
(source: Williams et al, The TKT Course, pp.73-4)

Remember that the descriptions are generalisations

that show likely, but not fixed, characteristics.
But from looking at these differences we can see
that each age group generally needs to
be taught in different ways.

LEARNING STYLES
(GARDNER'S THEORY OF MULTIPLE INTELLIGENCES)

http://edtechchic.blogspot.com/2012/04/multiple-intelligences-and-pbl.html
Access on Mon 26 Jul 2021, at 8.26PM

Remember that learners may not fall exactly into any one category of lea
style as they may have several styles. It's also true that different cultu
may use some learning styles more than others and that learners ma
change or develop their learning styles.
 arning
ures
ay
may use some learning styles more than others and that learners ma
change or develop their learning styles.
ay