Download - The Young Language Learner
THE YOUNG LANGUAGE LEARNERS
English for
Children
The content of the Subject
• Characteristics of young language learners
• Class management • Teaching English skills to the children
Characteristics of the children
Young language learners
Do not come to class empty-handedBring well-established set of instinct, skills, and characteristics which help
them learning new language.
For example:• Already good at interpreting meaning without
necessarily understanding individual words• Already have great skills in using limited language
creatively• Frequently learn indirectly than directly• Take great pleasure in creating fun in what they do• Have a ready imagination• Take great delight in talking
Characteristics of 5-7 years old• They can talk about what they are doing• They can tell you about what they have done or heard• They can plan activities• They can argue for something and tell the arguments• They can use logical reasoning• They can use their vivid imagination• They can use a wide range of intonation patterns in the
mother tongue• They can understand direct human interaction
Other Characteristics of young language learners (1)
• They know that the world is governed by rules.• They understand situations more quickly than the language
used.• They use language skills long before they aware of them.• Their own understanding comes through the hands, eyes, and
ears.• They are very logical• They have very short attention and concentration span.• They have difficulty in knowing the fact and fiction.
Other Characteristics of young language learners (2)
• They are often happy playing and working alone but in the company of others.
• Their world is not the same as adult’s• They seldom admit that they don’t know something either.• They can’t decide for themselves what to learn• They love to play and learn best when they are enjoying
themselves.• They are enthusiastic and positive about learning.
General Characteristics of 8 – 10 years old
• Their basic concept are formed. They have very decided views of the world.
• They can tell the difference of fact and fiction.• They ask questions all the time.• They rely on spoken word as well as physical world to convey and
understand meaning.• They are able to make some decision about their own learning.• They have definite views about what they like and don’t.• They have developed sense of fairness• They are able to work with others and learn from others.
Language development
• 8-10 y.o. children are competent users of the mother tongue.
• By the age of 10, they are:• Understand abstracts• Understand symbols• Generalize and systematize• Most of 8-10 yo children have language awareness and
readiness for SL
English as a Lingua Franca
Emergence of English as a World Language due to• British colonialism• US power• Advent technology
• About a billion people engaged in studying English as a Second (ESL) or Foreign (EFL) Language: Only about 300,000 million L1 English speakers (British Council, 2004; Crystal, 2000)
Young Learners of English
Widespread Language prestige
Parental pressure:
social mobility
The younger the better regardless of research
findings
How Young is Young?
Home environment:
• birth
School:
• Foreign language teaching in the US- 12
• Europe: varies: often 9-10 (or earlier)• Cambridge Young Learners’ test: 7-12• Israel and other “expanding countries”• The younger the better move to lower
age. Currently: grade one • Sometimes kindergarten
What Knowledge-Base is required for teaching EFL to young learners Knowledge of the language
Knowledge about the language
Knowledge how to teach the language
Knowledge about teaching young children
Knowledge about teaching the language to young children
How to teach them• Do not rely on spoken words only because words are not enough• Play with the language. • Spoken words should be accompanied by other clues to meaning.• Create varieties in the classroom.• Have system & routines. Organize and plan your lesson• Encourage cooperation, not competition• Note the structure, function, and grammar items you want them to
learn.• Write their progress and encourage self-assessment.
Key principles in teaching them