Teaching Teenagers – Tips for a Successful Summer Camp
If anyone has experienced teaching teenagers in summer camps, it may be daunting walking into a group of 15-16 year-olds. I had this experience the other week during a short summer camp. Even as an experienced teacher, I was genuinely worried about how I could connect with them. Here is what I learned:
- Meet their energy levels
People who teach adults may forget this, but children (including teenagers) have that wonderful youthful energy. It is important for the teacher to get off on the right foot with them, and part of this is meeting their energy levels. If you appear standoffish and ‘boring’ on the first day, it will be more difficult to win them round later on in the course.
2. Vary the activities
This is common advice applicable to language teaching in general, but I feel as though it deserves a special mention here. Teenagers respond best if the activities are varied and do not go on for too long. It’s also important to mix up the interaction patterns (pair/groups). And don’t forget to play a few simple games with them (with sugary treats for the winners).
3. Have fun with them
If you are teaching at a summer camp, remember that although you are the ‘teacher’, it is their holiday time. They want to enjoy themselves. If the students enjoy themselves, there’s a good chance that you will, too! Find out what they are into in the first few days and make little changes to incorporate them into existing lessons. The students will appreciate it, and you will be loved. 😊
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Image: Kids class photo created by senivpetro – www.freepik.com
