Making teaching English more child-friendly

He’s in love with a paper dancer.

He has only one leg.

He’s made of tin.

She’s in love with a prince.

She lives in a very high tower.

She has very long hair.

His father is a wood-carver.

He has a long nose.

He is a wooden puppet.

She fails to marry the prince she loves.

She doesn’t have legs.

She is from the ocean.

Reason for learning EnglishAbility to manage behaviourPriority to meaningDirect experience and activityCreative use of languageLanguage chunks

ExposureInputRepetitionFriendly environmentMotivationPurposeTimeInteraction

FunMeaningful contextsMotivationIdeas & ethical behaviourFluencyRecyclingCost

get children’s seated appropriately get their attention revise vocabulary or recall previous learning

experience relate topic to their experience give children an interesting purpose for listening

and something to do as they listen tell the story using actions and gestures and

involve children e.g. in doing actions, making noises.

Get children to predict what will happen Get children’s reaction/opinions about the story Retell the story using picture prompt/realia etc

using of visuals and realia give a purpose for listening teacher’s language/body language e.g.

• clear voice/delivery• varied pace and pause• eye contact• show interest through body language • use of repetition of key language

involve children through: • getting them to predict what will happen• doing actions e.g. showing hunger and thirst• joining in the repeated phrases e.g. I’m hungry• helping teacher to hold up visuals/puppets• allowing children to respond or comment in L1

Visuals

• Big books

• Scanning

• Internet downloads

• Coloring pages

• Drawing and coloring

• Posters, magazine photosRealia