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