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Things to Avoid When Joining an English Class as an Adult

Undertaking to complete an English course in Johor Bahru is an essential step towards achieving any chosen career path.  Irrespective of your employment field, being able to fully understand and effectively use the English language is crucial if you want to move forward professionally, especially in today’s dynamic world of international business and finance. 

Progressing through such a learning journey of English as an adult can be difficult, since it will involve making a financial commitment alongside demands made upon your time and energy.  However, the prospect of advancing your essential English language skills is also both exciting and rewarding. 

Becoming an adult learner will present you with many unique challenges, so it is vital to find the best teaching environment where potential barriers to your learning are identified and effective solutions quickly found. 

Let us take a look at what it means to be an adult learner, the common challenges that you may face, and how to overcome such difficulties. 
English adult students

Who is an adult learner?

An adult learner is a person beyond the normal school age who chooses to become involved in a formal process of learning.  

Many adult learners return to educational institutions in order to finish an existing degree, gain another degree, or simply acquire a new skill needed to boost their career.  Adult learners are, therefore, non-traditional students.

In ‘The Modern Practice of Adult Education’, (1970) and ‘The Adult Learner’, (1973), Malcolm Knowles defines an adult learner as being distinct from adolescent and child learners in his ‘Principle of Andragogy’, whereby ‘andragogy’ defines the process of how adults can be helped to learn effectively.  

Knowles explains that adult learners are influenced by external responsibilities, such as employment and family commitments, and these life responsibilities can become challenges that discourage the learner.

What are the main challenges faced by adult learners of English?

Studying will always be beneficial to everyone, irrespective of their gender, age, or chosen career.  

Opting to learn the English language in Johor Bahru will undoubtedly boost your career, but as an adult the process of switching between adult and academic life is not easy.

English banner

So what are some of the common setbacks that an adult learner of English can face?

1. Lack of Time

For most of us, trying to maintain a balance of time demanded by work, family, and the need for a healthy social life, is very difficult.  

Having to then find additional time for a regular adult class understandably makes the idea of studying seem even harder to achieve.  

In this way, the thought of you having time to take an English course for adults in Johor Bahru may feel far-fetched.

lack of time
financial barriers

2. Financial Barriers

How to meet all of your daily financial commitments is a major factor to be overcome when it comes to considering how to additionally fund becoming an adult learner. 

The payment of monthly household bills may be a difficult task already, and now there would be the extra cost of funding an English communication class in Johor Bahru as well.

3. Mindset

Self-doubt presents another significant barrier to any adult who is considering the actions needed to become a learner of English.  

Many adult learners are filled with doubt about going back to the classroom, and are left wondering ‘Will I be successful?’  

Compounded by fears of over-stretched finances and insufficient time to do everything within an already crowded daily schedule, self-doubt serves to further curtail any thoughts of considering the pursuit of greater personal success through adult learning.

mindset

Let us now look at some ways you can overcome the initial barriers faced by an adult learner, thereby allowing your future study of English to attain further significant professional success in your career.

According to John-Paul Ndodo in ‘Training an Adult’ (2018), finding the right solutions to your fears about studying as an adult is what makes you an adult.  So here are some possible solutions to the challenges you may face in becoming an adult learner: 

a) Flexibility

With a very busy daily schedule, flexibility is vital. If the demands of a regular class timetable cannot be met, you might consider taking an online educational course which will give you greater freedom in choosing when to study.

But if you need face-to-face learning support and guaranteed success by having an experienced British-trained teacher seated beside you, then get a private English tutor in Johor Bharu to teach you at the times most convenient to your daily schedule.

Everyone has to operate within a budget, thereby making financial barriers more difficult to overcome. If you need to improve your English skills in order to boost overall job effectiveness, then consider asking your company to help pay towards the cost of any English Tuition. Even if the full cost is not met, some assistance might enable you to at least start a process of new learning as an adult. Alternatively, you can enquire as to whether there are any options being offered allowing you to cover the cost of study through payment made by regular instalments. Investment in learning an international language like English will give you excellent value for money in terms of future financial success in your career. It is essential to note that studying is seen as a lifetime investment, so lift your self-worth by making a rewarding investment in personal education.

b) Value for Money

Everyone has to operate within a budget, thereby making financial barriers more difficult to overcome. If you need to improve your English skills in order to boost overall job effectiveness, then consider asking your company to help pay towards the cost of any English Tuition. 

Even if the full cost is not met, some assistance might enable you to at least start a process of new learning as an adult.

Alternatively, you can enquire as to whether there are any options being offered allowing you to cover the cost of study through payment made by regular instalments. 

Investment in learning an international language like English will give you excellent value for money in terms of future financial success in your career. 

It is essential to note that studying is seen as a lifetime investment, so lift your self-worth by making a rewarding investment in personal education.

c) Supportive Community

A learning community must offer you constant positive support to fight any self-doubts arising from facing the demanding process of becoming an adult learner. 

supportive community

In your English class for adults in Johor Bahru, such a supportive community is created for you by bringing together an active group of fellow adult learners. 

Also, you have access to an experienced and dedicated personal tutor who will help you whenever a new challenge to your learning arises.

So, are you ready to study? What should you do next?

You can improve your essential English skills without giving up your job or trying to change an already very busy daily schedule.  

If you are ready to join a positive community of proactive, focused, and successful adult learners, then check out English courses for adults in Johor Bahru.  

Begin your positive journey along an exciting new learning pathway, leading towards amazing personal achievement and a more rewarding future career!