Understanding Adult Learners as a Core Principle of Effective ESL-Educators

The article deals with a comparative analysis and practical application of Russian and foreign experience connected with some important aspects of teaching English to adult learners who are more problem centered than subject centered in learning. It is shown that the learning process will be successful in case it is based on such andragogical principles as the identification of adults’ individual difficulties and educational experience; content of teaching meeting their objectives and needs; use of interactive methods of teaching; integration of individual and group forms of learning activities and establishment of connection between adults’ life and work experience in the process of learning when a ESL instructor is not only an expert but a facilitator. In addition, barriers and motivation, interactive teaching strategies and technologies of practice-oriented approach have been studied in the article.