How to teach English to young learners

I don't know if it's Bennett's new program, the growing amounts of research* or a generation of Israelis who  grew up learning English but are still afraid to speak, but there seems to be an increased awareness of the importance of learning English at an early age. Many teachers are teaching English to young learners for the first time, and the question "How should I teach them?" is being raised more and more. 

My answer is - Don't. 

???

That's right - Don't teach them at all. Young children learn on their own without being taught. Expose them to English by speaking to them, singing, playing games and reading stories and they will absorb the language naturally. Explanations will bore and confuse them, and are unnecessary.

Now for some more specific ideas:

Speak - Young children are very tuned in to body language, facial expressions and voice intonation. Unless you are giving complicated instructions, speak English and use gestures to make the meaning clear. They will quickly become accustomed to hearing English and recognize common words and phrases.

Sing - Songs are an excellent way to learn and remember language along with its natural rhythm and flow. Singing should be active - add movements, hand motions and props rather than just watching videos. Make sure the lyrics of the songs are simple, repetitive and suitable for EFL students. They don't have to understand every word, but don't burden them with words like "merrily" and "water spout". This is why I started writing my own songs.

Play- If you play games that they already know, it will be easy for them to understand instructions in English, allowing you to use very little L1 and making them feel more comfortable by creating a familiar atmosphere. Use games in which the children repeat a few words or sentences. Some popular kindergarten games I use are Knock-Knock-What's My Name, Telephone, What's Missing, Red Light/Green Light and Hot/Cold.

Show them - Do any activity they like, but do it in English. Whether you dance, draw, cook or throw a ball, if they can see what you're doing while you speak to them they will understand and pick up new vocabulary.

A few basic rules to remember:

• Keep them active. Kids need to move.
• Be friendly and patient. Everyone learns at their own pace.
• Children learn by hearing, seeing and doing. 
• Avoid translating whenever possible. Use props, pictures or gestures instead. The disadvantages of translation can fill another blog post.
• Make it fun. They more they enjoy English, the more they'll learn now and in the future.

*How exposure to a foreign language ignites infants' learning

Babies exposed to stimulation get brain boost

Critical period effects in second language learning

Using Songs as Text

If they don't like English something's wrong

And you don't have to sing to use a song!

This post is based on the following observations –

·         Songs are an excellent way to reinforce vocabulary and grammar.

·         Songs are more interesting and easier to remember than text.

·         Not all English teachers sing – fewer play musical instruments.

·         As children get older they don't always want to sing in class.

·         Children and teenagers usually enjoy listening to music even if they don't like singing.

·         Israeli teenagers listen to a lot of songs in English.

So how can a musically-challenged English teacher use music to enrich English lessons?

Start out by presenting the song the way you would present text –

·         Write the title on the board, review some words and/or discuss the theme of the song.

·         Play the song for the class.

·         Ask the pupils which words they recognize.

·         If you want to concentrate on reading comprehension, hand out the lyrics. Another option is to hand out the lyric sheet with words missing and have them fill in the blanks.

·         Play the song again.

·         Discuss the song – what did they understand, what is the song about, etc.

·         Write some questions on the board.

·         Play the song once more, asking the pupils to listen for answers to the questions.

There is no need to actually teach the song, but after playing it a few times you will find pupils singing along. Once they are familiar with the lyrics, it's time to divide into pairs or small groups and be creative. Ask each group to present the song in pantomime, stage a "video clip" (actual filming isn't necessary) or even choreograph a dance. You can play the song in the background while they're working. This way they will hear it a few more times without getting bored. If the song tells a story, they can put on a short play. Another option is to play a game like charades using words or phrases from the song.

How should you choose songs, and where can you find them? It makes sense to use songs that are connected to what you're teaching. The connection can be subject matter, or specific sentence structures or vocabulary. Look through your own or your children's music library, or search the internet. If you're feeling lucky, go into a lyrics site and search for the vocabulary or chunk that you're teaching, you may just find a song you know. Asking pupils to suggest songs promises more interest, but obviously you should review the lyrics carefully before using them in class. For younger or weaker students be sure to keep the lyrics simple. There are also songs available written specifically for the EFL classroom, including my own series, English is Fun.

Remember, creativity is the key.