Get the student involved, and start at the level where the student is. Encourage and inform according to what is needed. Setting tasks which are achievable and interesting. Games can help greatly in making the subject fun and then lots reading aloud by the student, and then lots of questions about the era, and the reasons why those times are so relevant. Everyone learns in a different way and the key is finding out the best way that you learn, and then getting success and then another success and another , so that you feel you know a subject and can relate to it. When it becomes a part of your life then it will bring confidence and a feel good factor which is so much needed in the teenage years.