The teachers’ perspective on teaching languages to Polish seniors

Abstract

The aim of the study is to investigate foreign language teachers’ perspective on teaching older adults in the context of (glotto-)stereotypes about Polish third-agers. Thirty-seven lecturers, divided into two groups: one with and one without experience in teaching a foreign language to seniors, were examined. The survey study consisted of two stages based on 2 different research tools: online surveys and group interviews. Both individual responses from surveys and opinions expressed during group interviews were analyzed qualitatively with the use of a reflexive thematic analysis (TA) approach. The teachers responded to the questions regarding the following aspects: 1) seniors’ experiences in learning foreign languages; 2) older adults’ motivation, needs and expectations; 3) the role of the teacher; 4) didactic strategies. It turned out that the responses from the two groups did not differ a lot and in general the lecturers declared their willingness to work with late L2 learners. The influence of stereotypical thinking about seniors (based on the opinions of young Poles cited in the literature) on teachers who did not have experience working with this age group, was not as strong as presumed. None of the research groups’ members had had any formal education or training in teaching late L2 learners and, noteworthy, the attitudes and abilities of both teacher groups appeared to differ from the stereotypically held beliefs of Polish seniors. The comments from experienced teachers revealed their deeper awareness of seniors’ psychological needs, such as supporting them or giving positive feedback.