TEACHING ENGLISH IN INFANT EDUCATION

 

Infant education is a new challenge for many english teachers. We know that early ages are very appropriate for language acquisition, but when we enter the infant classroom for the first time we realize that we need a completely new methodology. These children cannot read nor write!  How can we keep them busy without worksheets? The first solution that comes to our mind are activities like colouring, playing with plasticine, etc. The problem is that they don't learn english through these activities.

According to modern theories, children need a 'silent period' during which they are exposed to the foreign language whitout pressure. In these conditions they can internalize the new language and its underlying system. (see Littlewood, 1984)

Taking into account this theory, our duty is to speak english language as much as possible, in contextualized situations that children can understand.

We can introduce songs with actions and gestures, but children mustn't be required to sing, only to dance or make the actions. If they start to sing the song after a few times we can be satisfied, but it's not neccesary.

Other useful resources are the games. But we have to take into account that these games must involve the use of english language (by the teacher).

Finally, storytelling must be one of our common resources in infant education.  Storytelling facilitates comprehension and interaction, and it can lead to dramatization and role-playing activities.

Now I'd like to introduce some recommendations, according to my own experience:

 

1. Follow some routines: children will feel more confident.

2. Keep your lessons alive: make demonstrations rather than explanations.

3. Use little chants or games for your commands ("if you are happy and you know it close your mouth",  "Simon says sit down") 

4. Link the activities. Don´t allow their attention to wander for any moment.

5. Children will be interested on new topics and activities, but sometimes they like to come back to  stories, characters or songs from previous months.  Make use of this to reinforce previous units.

6. If you make activities one by one, try to involve the whole group in the activity (applauses, chorus repetitions, etc)

 

 

©  topenglishteaching.com,  2003