Age

People of different ages and generations meet every day in adult education. Mostly this is favourable and enriching but sometimes it can lead to clashes. To reduce friction in your classroom you have to try to ease the tensions that might arise.

Case 1

Anna is 42 years old. In group work she meets Johan, 21 years old. They have different visions of how to learn, how to behave in a group and how to treat the teacher.

Anna needs time to think, while Johan is quick and intensive, which doesn't always lead to good results. He often takes command of the group. Anna doesn't like his attitude, and she thinks that he is impolite to the teacher. Now this has become a problem. Anna is upset and she leaves the group work.

You find her distressed and she refuses to go back to the classroom.

Reflections

• Do you feel responsible for not anticipating Anna's outburst?
• Would you press Anna to enter the classroom while she is upset?
• Would you initiate an off-the-record conversation with both students at the same time or individually?
• What would be the subject(s) of your discussion? (age gap,.)

Case 2

You are a teacher in a course and you have 25 students on your list. The majority are between the ages of 30 to 45 and are studying to retrain or to improve their grades in order to go on to university. Most of them have a family and an organized life.

Sara and Emma, 19, and Pierre and Tom, 20, are in this group. The four of them failed their exams in Upper Secondary School and have to improve in several subjects. They are very immature and disturb work during the lessons. They ignore rules and don´t respect their classmates. They are seldom on time for class and never take group work seriously.

Dissatisfaction is growing among the other students and they complain to you.

Refections

• How can I end the disturbing activity and guide the students to study?
• Can I have a private conversation with the individuals and get them to understand the disturbing situation and that their behaviour frustrates the others? How can I make the students understand that the teacher has nothing against them personally?
• What happens if I use irony and sarcasm?
• How can I get them to take responsibility for the consequences?
• How can I get them more motivated when they think they failed in everything and have lost their purpose?

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