Essay : Characteristic of Young Learners

            There are some approximations state that teaching young learners is more difficult because its characteristics which are very different with adult learners. If you become a teacher, you should comprehend all characteristics of young learner that you taught. Children from the first year of formal schooling (5 or 6 year old) to eleven or twelve year age can be called as young learners. Young learners have some special characteristics that differentiate them from adult learners. There should be known and understood by the teacher to give contribution to improve their quality of teaching and learning process.

            There are three sides of young learners’ characteristic. Physical side, social side, and psychological side. In addition, there are also some other characterisics.

    a.     Physical side:

1.      The physical world of young children is dominant. Their understanding comes through hands, eyes, and ears.

2.      They perform physical activity in many ways such as coloring, drawing, and writing.

3.      They are at the developing stage (critical period).

Lannenberg theory: two halves of the brain become specialized for different functions around puberty (LATERALIZATION)

    b.     Social side:

1.      They are happy playing and working in the company of others (sitting with others encourages co-operation) (Philips)

2.      They are aware of themselves in relation to others.

    c.     Psychological side:

1.      They have short concentration span

2.      They are free of prejudice

3.      They get bored easily

4.      They are forgetful

5.      They like imitating

6.      They have high curiosity

7.      They are risk taker

   d.     Other characteristic:

1.      Their first language is not fully developed

2.      They need to develop their native language

3.      They don’t need linguistic knowledge

4.      They learn language for communication (how), not the rules (what)

From those characteristics we can conclude that we have to make a different way to teach between young and adult learners. We must give more attention when we want to teach young learners. Teacher for young learners should has a good quality and more preparation because teacher is the key role in teaching young learners. As teacher, we have to understand about their needs, emotion and their interest, so that we get success in our teaching. We also have to adapt our self with them, so they can be enjoy learning the material given. Aini Mardhiah (2012) stated, “The better we know them, the better we will get the result”. Although some people said that teaching young learners is more difficult and complicated, but by preparing ourselves well teaching them will be pleasing.

References:

Chemink. 2012. Characteristic of Young Learners. [Online]. Available on: http://beddebah-haterulez.blogspot.com/2012/06/characteristic-of-young-learner.html, (accessed on March 29, 2014)

Mardhiah, Aini. 2012. My Essay for English for Young Learners (EYL) Subject. [Online]. Available on: http://blogsiai.blogspot.com/2012/05/my-essay-for-english-for-young-learners.html, (accessed on March 29, 2014)