Teaching Adults ESL: Entertainer vs. Teacher

In the world of ESL teaching, “fun” has become the golden standard. Games, role-plays, and high-energy activities are often expected in every classroom. But when it comes to teaching adults ESL, is fun really the most important goal?

Let’s take a closer look at what adult learners really need—and why you don’t have to put on a performance to be a great teacher.

Teaching Adults ESL: What Makes It Different?

Teaching adults is a completely different experience from teaching kids or teenagers, grounded in principles of Adult Learning Theory. Adult learners are often:

Working full-time or juggling multiple jobs
Managing family responsibilities
Preparing for immigration or professional development
Dealing with language anxiety or past learning trauma

They’re not showing up for entertainment. They’re showing up for results. Most adult learners are looking for lessons that are practical, relevant, and respectful of their time.

When we focus too much on being “fun,” we risk overlooking the very things that matter most to them.

The Pressure to Perform in the ESL Classroom

If you’ve been teaching for a while, you’ve probably felt it. That unspoken pressure to make every lesson exciting—to be energetic, animated, and endlessly creative. But when you're teaching adults ESL, this performance mindset can become exhausting.

Here’s what often happens:

You spend hours preparing games or skits that don’t land
You feel guilty if students aren’t laughing or clapping
You start to believe you’re not “good enough” if every class isn’t high-energy

But here’s the truth: you don’t need to entertain to be effective. Your role isn’t to impress—it’s to empower.

What Adult ESL Learners Really Want

So if adults aren’t necessarily looking for “fun,” what are they hoping to get from their English classes?

Through conversations with learners and years of classroom experience, here’s what consistently rises to the top:

Clear explanations of grammar, vocabulary, and real-world usage
Practical tasks that reflect their daily communication needs
Confidence-building activities that help them use English in real life
A respectful, inclusive environment where they feel heard and understood

In short, they want connection and clarity—not comedy.

How to Engage Without Performing

Just because you’re not putting on a show doesn’t mean your classes can’t be engaging. In fact, the most powerful moments often come from the simplest places:

A student finally using a tricky structure correctly
A class discussion that sparks a genuine cultural exchange
A quiet learner raising their hand for the first time

These are the wins that matter. They might not come with applause, but they signal real progress.

So how do you stay engaging without burning out? One option is to lean on ready-to-use ESL lesson resources designed specifically for adult learners.

Ask open-ended questions that invite learners to share
Use authentic materials like articles, podcasts, and workplace scenarios
Celebrate small wins openly and consistently
Encourage peer learning through group tasks and discussion

The Hidden Cost of Constant Entertainment

When ESL teachers are expected to be performers, burnout isn’t far behind, and it's a growing concern when looking at mental health in the workplace. You might find yourself:

Over-planning to keep up appearances
Second-guessing your teaching style
Feeling drained and disconnected from your own lessons

And here’s the kicker: many adult learners don’t even want all the bells and whistles. They’re not looking for the loudest classroom—they’re looking for the most useful one.

Embracing a New ESL Teaching Philosophy

We believe it’s time to reframe what success looks like in the adult ESL classroom.

Let’s move away from:

❌ “Was the class fun enough?”

❌ “Did I do enough games?”

❌ “Did I get enough laughs?”

And toward:

✅ “Was the lesson useful?”

✅ “Did students leave with more clarity?”

✅ “Did someone feel more confident today?”

ESL teaching adults is about building trust, not theatre. It’s about creating space for growth, not just buzz.

Final Thoughts: Be the Guide, Not the Performer

You became a teacher to make a difference—not to juggle flaming grammar balls while tap dancing through verb tenses.

You are enough—exactly as you are.

You bring value by showing up, by adapting, by listening. And when your classroom is built on relevance, trust, and support, students feel it.

So let go of the pressure to entertain. And lean into what really matters: helping adults build better lives through language.

Join the Conversation

Have you felt the pressure to perform in your teaching? Do you have your own approach to keeping classes engaging without burning out?

We’d love to hear your story. Drop a comment or tag us at ForeignTeacher.co.uk to join the conversation.