However, there are two ways to say it depending on what it is to which is being paid attention. If paying attention to a person, the phrase is “prestar atención,” which in a literal word-for-word translation means “to lend (one’s) attention.” On the other hand, if paying attention to an idea or a thing, one would use “poner atención.” which if taken in a similar literal translation means “to put (or set) attention.”

• Correct: Presten atención al maestro cuando les habla. ✔
  (Pay attention to the teacher when he speaks to you.)
• Incorrect: Pongan atención al maestro cuando les habla. ✘

Note the different connotations in the following two similar requests made from a a speaker (in our example, a teacher):

• Ésto es muy importante. Pongan atención por favor.
  (“This is very important. Pay attention [to this concept/thing], please.”  The teacher is explaining something to his/her students and does not want distractions.)
• Ésto es muy importante. Presten atención por favor.
  (“This is very important. Pay attention [to me], please.”  The teacher is demonstrating something, and wants his/her students to watch closely.)

I suppose it’s similar, slightly, to how Japanese translate the verb “to have” (or “to be/to exist”) as 有る（ある, “aru”) for objects and concepts but as 居る（いる, “iru”）for living things. Peculiar…but very interesting. Is this difference in Spanish for similar separation of living and non-living things? I wonder…Thanks for the neat Spanish lesson, mom!