Read the text below and answer the following four questions.

Keeping Teenagers Interested

When you have a class of teenagers, you can have some great discussions providing that you find the topics that really interest them. Whether the latest signings by Manchester United, or finding the perfect date, teenagers make the effort to communicate when they feel strongly enough about the subject matter.

Some other points that teenagers look for in a good lesson are:

- Evidence that the teacher is prepared for the lesson and interested in their students’ development: At this age kids are smart enough to know if you habitually throw lessons together at the last minute and they behave accordingly.

- Good classroom management: There’s no point trying to get in with the kids. You aren’t one of them! What they like to see is that you’re in control of the class and that you’re a figure of authority without being too uptight.

- Showing them respect: Teenagers are moving towards adulthood and they like you to acknowledge this by asking their opinion about various topics and encouraging them to be independent in their learning when this is appropriate.

- Fun activities they can actually learn from: You can play games at any level and with any age group but with teenagers you need to make your aims and objectives clear, so they know why the activities you do are relevant to them. - Challenging activities: Take the level up half a notch from time to time so that students feel stretched. Easy activities can lead to boredom.

- An invitation to comment on the course or lesson: Hand out questionnaires so that students can tell you what they want. You can ask them to suggest topics they’d like to talk or write about.

Have competitive team activities on a regular basis but be sure to mix up the teams regularly. (Maxom, Michelle, 2009)