Have you ever stood in front of your class, asked a question, and been met with… crickets? You’re not alone. I’ve had moments where I thought, “Are they even listening?” But then I realised – the problem wasn’t them, it was how I was trying to teach.
In Vocational Education and Training (VET), we’re not teaching kids – we’re working with fully formed adults, and many of your learners are juggling work, family, and study. Some are returning to the classroom after years (or decades!) out of school. They’re not here for fun – they’re here for a reason. They want to gain real skills that will help them in real life.
So, how do we make sure they’re not just sitting there, but actually learning? Here are three simple, real-world tips I use in my own training rooms that help keep adult learners engaged – and coming back for more.
🧬 Make It Relevant to Real Life
One of my students – let’s call her Mel – was doing a Certificate III in Business. During a session on email etiquette, I noticed she looked so incredibly bored. So I paused and asked, “What kind of emails do you actually send at work?” She said, “Honestly, just chasing up overdue invoices.”
That changed everything.
Instead of sticking to generic examples that made no sense to her, we rewrote one of her real emails together. We talked about tone, clarity, and professionalism. She lit up – and so did the rest of the group. Suddenly, the whole zoom was full of examples from real jobs. The lesson became theirs, not mine.
👉 Tip for trainers: Start every activity with a question like, “Where would you use this skill in your work or life?” This helps adults connect the dots right away – and when learning feels useful, they tune in fast.
📢 Give Them a Voice in the Room
I once had a class full of experienced hospitality workers. At first, they were quiet – maybe even suspicious. They didn’t want to be talked at by someone who hadn’t worked in a kitchen for years… and while I’m a banging cook… I’m not a chef, so I get it. Instead, I asked them to share how they handle a customer complaint.
That’s when the magic happened.
Everyone had a story – some funny, some stressful, but all useful. We turned it into a group activity: “What would you do differently next time?” Before I knew it, the students were teaching each other, and I was just guiding the conversation. Because ya-girl can’t top the literal decades of experience standing in front of her.
🎤 Shouting this out: Use group work, open-ended questions, or even story circles. Let them speak from experience. Adults want to feel seen, heard, and respected. When you listen, they lean in.
💪 Use Flexible and Accessible Materials
I’ll never forget Paul – a fellow learner studying his Cert IV in Training and Assessment. He worked nights, had three kids, and was always exhausted. We had both given up 18 flipping Saturday’s to get our certificate but I could see he was struggling. One day, he pulled me aside and said, “I read best on my phone when I’m parked on breaks. Where do you think I can get the workbook as a PDF?”
From that moment, I knew I’d made sure all my resources were available in more than one format – printed, digital, even audio where possible. And I kept my language simple. Not because my learners aren’t smart – but because they’re busy, tired, and often learning in short bursts.
🛠️ Build those skills: Use plain English. Break tasks into steps. Avoid long blocks of text. And always ask learners how they prefer to study – then adapt when you can. Accessibility is about making learning work for them.
🦜 Let’s Chat: What’s Your Best Tip?
Every class is different, and every trainer has their own style. Maybe you’ve got a go-to icebreaker that gets learners talking. Maybe you’ve found a creative way to bring dry topics to life. Either way – I’d love to hear it!
Let’s help each other grow, support new trainers, and make learning better for everyone.
Till next time.