I often get asked the question of how I manage to teach English to early learners. And some parents are unsure if it is okay for their kids to start learning a second language at such an early age (3-6). It is scientifically proven that children at this age actually have strong potential to acquire almost an infinite number of new information, especially when second language learning is concerned. So starting them earlier is a great choice.
Here is what learning English at Little Learners looks like and some tips and tricks we use to get the kids to enjoy the process of learning the English language.
Tip: Make it fun. Kids love to have fun!
Trick: Never a lesson. Always a game!
Small kids will stay interested as long as you succeed in making activities funny and understandable. Action-based activities, playing games, singing, dancing and storytelling are the best methods.
My favorite teaching approach is Total Physical Response (TPR). It is one of the most important teaching methods and children really have fun doing it hence making it one of the most effective. The kids can learn and practice vocabulary connected with actions, tenses, imperatives and instructions. And it can be combined with singing and dancing.
Here is an example of how I used TPR to teach the kids Body parts:
First I introduced the word body.
I stood up and pointed to the parts of the body and named them out loud: hair, head, face, eyes, nose, mouth, chin neck shoulder arms etc.
Using TPR: I asked the kids; Show me your head. Touch your nose. Wiggle your toes etc., phrases followed by demonstration: I wash my face. I brush my teeth/Hair. I eat with my hands etc.
The kids immediately got involved and were eager to take part. Next I paired them in groups of two. And asked touch your partners shoulder/nose/ears/ hair etc. The kids got into funny positions sometimes difficult or even impossible and had a burst of laughter at each task all the while learning vocabulary.
One of the kids suggested we turn it into a match. I called out the parts of the body really fast and they tried to keep up by touching the named body part. Who ever touched the wrong part of the body was out until we had a finale with the last two standing.
Next we played the popular card game slapjack using flash cards with body parts.
We rounded it up with singing the popular English song heads, shoulders, knees and toes. Of course that also quickly turned into a competition on who could sing and touch the parts of the body in the song the fastest.
The best experience with doing activities with kids is you quickly notice that they have creative ideas too and when we listen we can learn a thing or two from them on their idea of fun, inspiring us to create new and fun activities. Activities that are sure to get the kids approval of fun!
Sylvia, Child Minder Afterschool Club and Butterflies