Characteristics of Learners

Intermediate & Secondary stage learners

Ministry of EducationELT General Supervision

WHY?Knowing the characteristics of the learners helps the teacher to…….

a)communicate easilyb)teach effectivelyc)remedy their weaknesses d)be friendly with them.

This stage is called “The Observation Stage” during which pupils are observed to distinguish abilities and tastes and further directed to different types of education in the next stages of study.

Intermediate Stage

Characteristics Educational application

1.Sensitivity & self-consciousness

Being close to Ss- study social conditions – solve problems- help pass this critical stage-avoid embarrassment- respect.

Characteristics & Application

2.Daydreamers & Being absent minded.

Close observation of Ss abilities – secure attention by varying activities

Characteristics Educational application

3. Isolating one-self & indulging in imaginative thinking .

Vary school activities – free educational activities enable Ss to acquire different experiences.

Characteristics Educational application

4. Pupils’ abilities begin to develop.

Teachers observe , estimate Ss behavior and achievement in all aspects and get acquainted with his abilities, skills to direct him to the type and branch of education that best suits him.

Characteristics Educational application

SECONDARY STAGEIn this stage the adolescent’s personality gradually reaches maturity. Most important factors affecting this transformation are home ,school and social treatment. The teenager experiences some emotional as well as physical changes. They are usually moody , needs to feel independent and free. They tend to stick to their personal views and opinions.

Characteristics Educational applications

1. Personality reaches maturity

Treated as grown ups – observe abilities

2. Talents and mental abilities reach their peek

Islamic principles should be rooted in their behaviour.

3. Eager to watch T.V and listen to Radio to get information.

Use T.V& radio programmes

Characteristics & Application

4. Using imagination and daydreaming

Use creative & imaginative thinking in tasks.

5. Moody & emotionally unstable

Ensure security and assurance

6. need for independence and freedom

Respect their personalities and treat them as adults.

7. Tendency to depend on one- self

Entrust them and let them do things themselves.

Characteristics Educational applications

8. Tendency to argue. Give a chance to discuss and argue .How?

9. Absent minded Eye-contact , addressing by names , positive learning atmosphere.

10. Tendency to group against adults.

Directing their activities to social reform- boosting their patriotism and loyalty to the nation

Characteristics Educational applications

How To Foster In Them The Love For Learning

Don’t punish them for their tendency to discuss or argue.Never evade teenagers’ questions.Help them solve their private problems.Hold collective meetings to discuss their problems & envisage effective solutions.Enhance their sense of belonging.Encourage them to participate in scientific & cultural symposiums.

Learning styles are various approaches or ways of learning. They involve educating methods, particular to an individual, that are presumed to allow that individual to learn best

Learning Styles

Learning Styles

Auditory (learning by listening) Logical, analytical sequential

thinkers. Comfortable with typical school

tasks. Good group leaders. Preferred activities Any kind of work with audio

cassettes. Songs, poems, rhymes.....etc

Learning Styles

Visual ( learning by seeing)

Recall information through visualizing.

Always notice details. Are often neat & well organized. Preferred activities Working with pictures rather than

words. Visualizing scenes, characters.....etc

Learning Styles

Kinaesthetic (learning by moving) Need to see, hear & do to learn. Have short concentration spans. Need to move frequently. Preferred activities Moving while learning. Stories with lots of action &

adventures. Learning by doing.

Learning Styles Test

1.    You are about to give directions to a person. She is staying in a hotel in town and wants to visit  your house. She has a rental car. Would you:

V. draw a map on paper? A. tell her the directions? K. collect her from the hotel in your car?

2.     You are staying in a hotel and have a rental car. You would like to visit a friend whose  address/location you do not know. Would you like them to:

V. draw you a map? A. tell you directions? K. collect you from the hotel in their

car?

3.    You are going to cook a dessert as a special treat for your family. Do you:

K. cook something familiar without the need for instructions? V. thumb through a cookbook looking for ideas from the pictures? A. ask for advise from others?

4. A group of tourists has been assigned to you

to find out about national parks. Would you:

K. drive them to a national park? V. show them slides and photographs? A. give them a talk on national parks?

5.     You are not sure whether a word should be spelled "dependent" or "dependant". Do you:

V. see the word in your mind and choose the best way it looks?

A. sound it out? K. write both versions down?

6- Do you prefer a lecturer/teacher who likes to

use:

V. flow diagrams, charts, slides? K. field trips. labs, practical sessions? A. discussion, guest speakers?

7.Apart from price, what would most influence your decision to buy a particular textbook?

K. using a friends copy? A. a friend talking about it? V. it looks OK?

Now go back and count how many V's, A's, R's, and K's you circled.

Teaching Styles

Formal authority Teacher – centred . Teacher focuses on content . Teacher doesn’t encourage T/S or

S/S interaction. Used in presentations .

The more models the teacher uses, the more satisfaction that teacher obtains from teaching.

Teaching Styles

Demonstrator Teacher – centred. Teacher focuses on demonstration &

modelling. Teacher encourages students

participation. Used in drilling structural patterns.

Teaching Styles

Facilitator Student – centred. Teacher focuses on (group)

activities. Teacher encourages problem solving

& creativity. Used in group work & peer tutoring.

Teaching Styles

Delegator Student – centred. Teacher encourages self-directed

learning. Students design & implement their

own learning projects. Used in problem solving /

brainstorming / discussions.

Matching Teaching To Learning Styles

Objectives. Presentations. Materials. Activities. Home assignments. Verifying teaching styles. Verifying students groupings. Classroom design. Learning environments.

Matching Teaching To Learning Styles

Auditory Participate in class discussions. Read texts out aloud. Express ideas verbally. Create musical rhymes to aid

memorization. Listen to music while studying.

Matching Teaching To Learning Styles

Visual Use colours to highlight important

points. Use multi-media(videos,

computers..etc) Read illustrated books. Visualize information to aid

memorization. Have a clear view of the teacher.

Matching Teaching To Learning Styles

Kinaesthetic Take frequent study breaks. Move around to learn new things. Skim through reading materials to

get a general idea before going through the details.

Tips For The Teachers

Enhance the power to educate by discovering how a teacher teaches best.

Every teacher has a unique style & teaching preferences of his/her own.

The key optimum performance in the classroom is to discover these preferences and use them in preparation, teaching & managing students.