Abstract
This research is based on writer’s experience of teaching about 30 elders in smartphone classes over the course of 6 months at a community in Shanghai. Cognitive linguistic phenomena in the teaching process are discussed. The elders’ lack the lexicon and context of this internet age leads to low learning efficiency and inability of self-studying. The use of referential language accommodation, a specific kind of language simplification, by the teachers, poses potential psychological harm of to the elders. This research concludes that starting classes by “lexicon and context” as the basis for subsequent classes can solve both problems. The phenomenon and causes of elders’ unconscious “egocentricity” are also discussed. Teachers should present understanding as tolerance may alleviate elder egocentricity.