They’re little. Now what?

Setting up and substantiating a VYL Programme

Kylie MalinowskaIH Prague

January 2012

Setting up a VYL Programme

So what is a VYL?

Voracious Yelping Leech?

Setting up a VYL Programme

VYL are still developing.....•Shorter attention spans

•Open and emotional

•More physical energy (but tire easily)

•Me, me, me!

•Literacy

•Lack insight

Setting up a VYL Programme

Why a session on setting up and

substantiating a VYL Department?

Setting up a VYL Programme

My little genius

Education1. FL in preschools2. .......

Setting up a VYL ProgrammePast Now

In-school YL courses for ages 5-16 In-school courses for ages 5-16

In-School Kids’ club YL Exams and Exam prep classes

Summer Camp Off-site YL courses at state schools grades 1-5

Off-site preschool courses in Prague 6 and every preschool in Prague 10

In-school ‘family club’ for ages 2-6

In-school kids’ club

Off-site kids’ club

Summer Camp

Setting up a VYL Programme

What does your VYL/ YL department look like now?

How do you expect/ want/ need it to look in the

future?

Setting up a VYL Programme

the main ‘bonus’ teaching VYL is ‘no strict syllabuses to follow,

no tests and no performance objectives to be met’

(Reilly and Ward, 1997)

Setting up a VYL Programme

NeedsGoals

PathwaysValidation

Setting up a VYL Programme

How do we do a needs analysis for

VYL?

Ok, so.....

‘learners assumptions, purpose, societal expectations and

constraints and other subsidiary questions…..’

(Nunan, 1988)

Err...hang on?????

Setting up a VYL Programme

Where is the learner coming from?

What does the learner want/ need?

How would they like to learn it?

(Scrivener, 2005)

Setting up a VYL Programme

Where is the learner coming

from?

Setting up a VYL Programme

What does the learner want/ need?

Setting up a VYL Programme

VYL “are not generally aware that they are acquiring a language, nor are they aware of societal values and attitudes placed on

one language or another” (Brown, 2000:61),

How would they like to learn it?

Setting up a VYL Programme

A positive first language learning

experience =

Confident and happy learners

Setting up a VYL Programme

Routine

Setting up a VYL Programme

Stories“ [Storytelling] ...creates an acquisition rich environment and ideal learning conditions

which provide comprehensible input, or language a little beyond the child's current

level of competence”

Krashen (1981: 103)

Setting up a VYL Programme

Songs, chants, TPR

Setting up a VYL Programme

Games

Setting up a VYL Programme

Craft

Setting up a VYL Programme

Course Design1. Topics the learners are;

familiar with/ find interesting: colours, numbers, animals, family

can use/ recognise in a real context: clothes, food, weather

Setting up a VYL Programme

Course Design2. Language items the learner can;

use in real contexts : 'I'm..' 'It's...' 'It's a...' 'I have...' 'Can I have...' 'I like/ don't like...' 'yes/ no' 'Please' 'Thank you' 'Hello' 'Goodbye‘

recognise in real contexts: 'What's your name?' 'Would you like..' 'Do you like..' 'Is it...?' 'What is it...?' 'put on/ take off‘

Setting up a VYL Programme

Course Design3.Appropriate methodology and activities: TPR; songs; stories.

4. Six topic based lexical items for production each lesson, included in a craft activity that learners can show parents.

Setting up a VYL Programme

Reasonable aimsTo provide a 1 _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ and 2_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

first language experience and introduce children to

learning English in a 3_ _ _ and 4 _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

5 _ _ _ _ _ _ with a focus on 6 _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ before

7 _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ and exposing them to natural,

communicative English through real communication.

Setting up a VYL Programme

Reasonable aimsTo provide a positive and constructive first

language experience and introduce children to

learning English in a fun and involving manner

with a focus on recognition before production

and exposing them to natural, communicative

English through real communication.

Setting up a VYL Programme

Training & supportMaterials

EquipmentSpace

Setting up a VYL Programme

Is learning a positive experience? Are the

learners happy?

Setting up a VYL Programme

Is learning fun? Do they enjoy the course?

Activities? Topics?

Setting up a VYL Programme

Are learners involved ?

What specific activities achieve

this?

Setting up a VYL Programme

Is learning constructive?

Are learners receiving comprehensible exposure?

What vocabulary/ language items have they

assimilated? Are they able to produce?

Setting up a VYL Programme

Setting up a VYL ProgrammeReport Sheet for …...............................................

__/__/____

Classroom Activities General CommentsFollows Classroom instructionsTries to communicate with teacher/ classroom puppetListens to and understands the songs/ chantsTries to join in with songs/ chants (words, actions or both)Can follow the storyVolunteers to act out the storyJoins in with gamesFills out worksheetsCompletes art and craft activities with careResponds non-verbally to instructions

Attitude and general commentsShows interest to learnTries hardParticipatesFeels secure in classRespects routines and rules in the classIs developing gross motor skillsIs developing gross fine skillsCo-operates with classmatesListens to classmatesRespects turn taking

Setting up a VYL Programme

Discussion

Thank you for listening