People tend to excel when they are genuinely interested in learning a language. They are more likely to take charge of their learning process, which results in faster acquisition and progress. Learners will find some methods more engaging than others, and this will depend on their learning style, interests, goals, personalities, etc. The teacher’s responsibility is to identify these and adapt the lesson plans accordingly. There are various ways to personalize lessons. The following list presents seven components that can be used in the context of teaching adults in a private setting or in small groups.

General scope

1. Keep the student’s goal in mind

The majority of language learners have a purpose. They might want to study abroad, communicate with locals when traveling, understand movies, or interact with foreign friends. If we provide teaching in the context of their goals, the learning experience will be rewarding and will give students a sense of empowerment and accomplishment. This will inspire a desire to keep learning and advancing. Students who have a genuine desire to learn new vocabulary or grammar because it will bring them closer to their goals will advance more quickly than those who don’t see the value in learning a particular language feature.

Personalizing the content

2. Adjust lesson topics to the student’s needs

When teaching adults, we are meeting with people of different characters, professions, interests, ages, and social statuses. Adjusting the contents to their needs will provide more satisfactory learning outcomes. Teaching a 26-year-old person who wants to travel abroad is different from helping a 60-year-old executive prepare for a coming international conference. The chosen topic should be in line with the student’s goal. The resulting lessons will feel more natural, motivational, and engaging. Ask yourself: If you were the kind of person your student is, would you feel enthusiastic about your lessons?

3. Use the topics the student has raised recently

Being a good listener is of great help when choosing a topic for the next activity. During the lessons, students will bring up various subjects. When making a lesson plan, it is important to recall them and structure activities around them. This will improve learning since the students will already have prior knowledge and interest in the topic. They will build upon these more naturally than when dealing with a topic they are not familiar with.

Personalizing the teaching method and technology

4. Respect the student’s learning preferences

Finding out about the learners’ preferences, or the variety of methods that they find most interesting, is crucial since it will help to keep them focused and engaged. It will also lead to higher learning outcomes. Some students will prefer learning through “free talk,” while others will prefer structured lessons with a focus on grammar. Discovering what works best is often the result of trial and error and might not be obvious from the very beginning.

5. Use the appropriate technology and materials

Technology and teaching resources are available in a wide range of formats, including textbooks, applications, notes, handouts, videos, and quizzes. Selecting the options that best suit your student’s tastes will increase their motivation to learn and make the process more satisfying overall. Interestingly, although we frequently assume that younger generations are more tech-savvy than older ones, this may not always be the case. Many older students are eager to try new technology, while some younger ones are overexposed to digital tools and prefer more traditional teaching techniques.

Personalizing the vocabulary and grammar

6. Adapt the vocabulary and grammar to the student’s proficiency

Activities should primarily use language and grammar that learners already understand and provide a framework for adding new material that is challenging but not overwhelming. We should ask ourselves: Do students have the necessary background knowledge to handle the planned activities? What would be the most challenging section for them? Alternatively, would they consider them to be overly simple and lacking in a genuine challenge? The teacher’s use of language in the classroom is of similar importance. The use of “graded vocabulary” (vocabulary adjusted to the learner’s proficiency) will guarantee that the students comprehend the lesson. When new words are used in discussion, it is a good idea to subtly check to see if everyone understands.

7. Reuse the grammar and vocabulary from previous lessons

There’s a saying that goes, “Use it or lose it.” It has been demonstrated time and time again that the language is only retained if there are enough opportunities to put what has been learned into practice. New vocabulary and grammar should be introduced and then used again within a reasonably short period of time. Reusing the recently learned content and encouraging students to once again pay close attention to it produces better memorization. During the following lessons, the occasional use of the terms that the student has difficulty memorizing or using will also be helpful.

Lesson progression

Each lesson offers a lot of opportunities for personalization. Here are some of the critical moments during a typical lesson for teachers to pay attention to and use actively in future lesson plans:

• At the beginning of the lesson. Ask the student about any special interest they want to tackle in that lesson and integrate it if possible. Define the goal of the lesson and the activity that you prepared. Explain what role this knowledge plays in the student’s overall learning trajectory. When we understand the greater picture and the purpose behind what we are doing, we all learn more effectively.

• During the lesson. If there are issues during the lesson that can’t be handled at that time, memorize them or write them down and address them next time. Students will be appreciative that their needs have been addressed and will be more likely to absorb the knowledge successfully.

• At the end of the lesson. Ask for feedback about the class and whether there is something that he or she would like to tackle the next time.

Lesson personalization may initially require more work, but the benefits it provides will make it worthwhile in the long run.