Insights into Senior Foreign Language Education

This book examines the unique characteristics of teaching foreign languages to senior learners. It discusses the potential age-related barriers and learning difficulties which may be encountered in senior foreign language education as well as solutions to overcome these challenges. The author describes the processes of human aging from different perspectives and introduces the concept of lifelong learning. The book proposes classroom practices, activities and materials that may be adopted when working with senior learners which will prove useful to teachers and teacher trainers, as well as to educational policymakers and planners. Furthermore, it describes potential modifications to educational programmes that may be introduced in order to eliminate affective barriers, making the learning material relevant and motivating, and encouraging the use of adult learning strategies.

Marek Derenowski is a Professor at the State University of Applied Sciences in Konin and in the English Language Department at Adam Mickiewicz University, Kalisz, Poland. He has over 20 years of experience working as a teacher trainer and methodology teacher from primary schools up to university. His research interests include senior language education, intercultural competence, pre-service teacher training, teacher autonomy and language learning strategies.