QUICK RESOURCE SHEET #35

Teaching adults

Today’s Quick Resource Sheet features a potpourri of links from the broad general category of teaching adults. 
Whether you currently teach adults, are thinking of teaching adults, and/or are yourself an adult learner 
(Aren’t we all?), take a look at the following resources – ranging from the theoretical to the practical - and 
see if they don’t broaden your perspective.

http://www.fsu.edu/%7Eadult-ed/jenny/philosophy.html

This easy-to-use guide gives a brief overview of different philosophies or schools of thought in adult education. 
These different philosophies are presented in simple tables, comparing the role of learner and teacher, 
the techniques used according to each philosophy, and the origins of the philosophies.

http://www.asian-efl-journal.com/04_kso.html

 “By pointing out dimensions of adult learners and teaching, this article aims to discuss a way of strengthening the awareness 
on and through learning and self-esteem in adult language classes. The cognitive therapy technique emphasizes the importance 
and necessity of informing the learners of basic aspects of learning and language learning in order to aid them to build up their
learning strategies effectively and consciously.”

http://www.ericdigests.org/1999-4/project.htm

“This digest provides a rationale for using project-based learning with adult English language learners, 
describes the process, and gives examples of how the staff of an adult English as a second language 
(ESL) program have used project-based learning with their adult learners at varying levels of English proficiency.”

http://humanities.byu.edu/elc/Teacher/TeacherGuideMain.html

Though this Adult Ed Teacher’s Guide is written from a US perspective, it does include a comprehensive set of ready-to-use 
activities organized by level and then grouped by functions or competencies. It should be easy to adapt most of these exercises 
to an EFL context.

http://www.asaging.org/networks/index.cfm?cg=LEARN

This link features a worthy article from the Spring 2005 issue of The Older Learner. Check out the resources for Older Adult Learning 
and Lifelong Learning, accessible by clicking the tabs on the left side of the home page.