[Clare James]

Something I find that helps with teaching teenagers is to keep each activity or stage of the lesson quite short and complete in itself. That way, students know that if an activity bores them, there will be something different along in a moment. It's also quite important with teens to try to make them feel as though they can influence the course of the lesson in someway or to be creative / imaginative within the lesson. Try to pick teaching activities which are more student-centred, not teacher-orientated. Try to have as much of the class with the students speaking in pairs / small groups and not the teacher standing at the front of the class droning on about grammar.

It's never an easy answer and every class is different. But, for me, trying to get them on your side so they feel that they'll have more fun learning with you than shouting and messing around is the way to get by with teens.

Hope this helps!