English for children of early age

Salaspils municipality Preschool "Ritenitis"

Comenius project«English language integration in the pre-school game lessons»Partners:

Latvia, Poland, Romania, Hungary, Spain, Italy, Turkey

Goal:To motivate children to learn English Through active working and gaining positive emotions

The experience of the partners: Poland Turkey

There are two teachers - an English teacher communicates only in English and a preschool teacher communicates with children in mother tongue

Hungary Romania Italy Spain Latvia

Preschool teacher, who communicates with children in mother tongue, integrates English in everyday activities.

LatviaIntegrating English into daily rhythm:

Time Description

7:00-8:30

Welcome childrenWelcome, greeting phrases in English - Hello, good morning, come inFree games, on children’s own ideas.

8:30-9:00 Breakfast time, self-service skills building.

9:00 Morning circle, planning daily activities, discussions - including songs and rhymes in English.

9:30 Game lessons – according to the theme teacher integrates English vocabulary, phrases.

11:00 Walk - motion games, observations of nature, etc.

12:00-13:00 Lunch time, self-service skills building.

13:00-15:00 Nap, rest time - in some groups teachers read fairy tales in English.15:30 Afternoon snack, self-service skills building.

16:00 Individual work, free games - viewing short animated film, listening to songs in English. Attending interest groups - dancing, the ensemble (songs in English)

17:00 -19:00

Outdoor activities, games.Parents welcome, farewell - farewell phrases in English - Goodbye, see you.

Methods and methodological techniques/ What contributes to implementation of the goal /

Hello! I speak English fluently Each group has its own image (doll, toy)

– “a language carrier”, who understand English and helps children and teachers mastering it.

Songs and rhymes Short songs and rhymes are easily

learned by children creating positive emotions and joy.

Games There is an opportunity to integrate

words and phrases in English into several games, which are usually played in Latvian.

• “Day and night”• “Hot, cold, colder”• “What's in my bag”

Books and board games in English Board games and books in

English are frequently used to acquire knowledge in mother tongue.

Animation films and songs Getting familiar with the language that

is based on the positive emotions gives good results.

CooperationActing together always gives better results!

Pupils the 6th grade of the Salaspils 1st secondary school Mutual visits, common playing and

demonstration of the skills, give extra incentive to master something new.

Our assistants Inga Elksne – mentor, encourager Indra Frišfelde – English teacher for

children Aija Kļaviņa, Kristīne Greize – English

teacher for teachers

We involve parents in the activities

Parent’’s interest and desire to act together is a great support.

We invite parents to play, sing, read tales and learn new words and phrases in English together with children.

We involve parents in the preparation of materials and games, facilitating English language learning.

Encourage to learn new words in English together.

Involve parents into picture dictionary creation

Work with young volunteers from youth organization «Zibsnis»

Volunteers made an English vocabulary and a coloring book for children.

Taught new games to children. Were involved in English Festival and

participated in various activities

Activities of the Comenius project

European language day We studied how many different languages we

hear, including English. We looked at books, listened to songs and watched short films in different languages. Visited local library to see the small and a large books in foreign languages.

2014 and 2015 calendars Each group has their own calendar.

Possibility to create your own calendar was a challenge and an acquisition of new skills. The calendar was used as a Christmas gift for the parents of students.

Theater days Slip into actor’s roles, to sing and to

speak English, it's wonderful!

In March of 2014 and 2015, we organized theater days, aiming to rehearse performances with children integrating songs and texts in English.Children showed performances to each other, to parents and to guests of kindergarten.

Determination of children's level of knowledge

To demonstrate growth of children’s knowledge and usefulness of the project, the survey is carried out.

Picture dictionary One of the most important assistants in any

language learning is a dictionary. Preparing picture dictionaries is an activity aimed to summarize English words and phrases learned during the entire project in a single common material.

Coloring book 5-7-year-olds made a coloring book to help

toddlers get a first view of the English language.

Within the month of literature young children receive an English coloring book as a gift from older children.

Song book Music teacher, using the

software Sibelius, has created a song book. It summarizes the most popular children's songs that are well usable in language laarning, songs are adapted from English into Latvian and vice versa.

Drawing exhibition «Me and my friends» We all are friends! This is confirmed by

children's drawings from all project partners which are arranged in a united exhibition.

Experience school - seminar for preschool teachers We shared our experience of how to integrate

English language into pre-school children daily activities by organizing experience exchange seminars for Salaspils preschool teachers.

Publicity To tell the general public about the

project, we published several informative articles in the newspaper «Salaspils News» und on Salaspils county website.

You can find an insight into the activities held during the project on our institution's website and on the project blogspot:

http://www.ritenitis.lv/lat/projekta-apraksts/169-comenius-projekts-2013-2015/

http://www.englishforplaytime.blogspot.com

Everyday momentsA slight insight into the daily activities

Morning circle

We acquire skill to greet in English, to say your name, to tell how old are you. The teacher introduces new words and phrases.

Free time activities

Observe books, play board games, sing songs and play.

English at sport’s lessonsMotor activity as well can be linked to the English language acquisition.

Creative lessons and English Art and creative engagement is a great way to enrich

the language learning process. Creative work frequently helps children understand the importance of the acquired word.

New book – new words – new knowledge

We work with an interactive whiteboard

New technologies are increasingly entering our everyday life and make learning exciting.During the project a new interactive material, which can be used in both Latvian and English, has been created.

Skype conversations with partners Language learning process becomes exciting when

we can verify our knowledge by talking to friends from other countries, "Can we understand what children from Spain, Turkey or Poland are saying? Yes! Because they also learn English, we can talk! "

Skype conferences were organized for both children and educators.

Festive momentsChristmas

Grandparent’s ball

Family day celebration

Childrendelighted their parents and other guests with songs and performances in English during various celebrations.

English afternoons games (in English), acquired In everyday activities ,

with great pleasure were played during various special English Thematic holidays.

Accomplishments of the “English language integration in the pre-school lessons” project :

1. Everyday work with children - integration of English language in different subjects and activities

2. Materials resources procured3. We have gained experience about work in other countries4. Children knowledge assessment conducted5. Cooperation with:

• Parents• School• Salaspils region council• English teachers• Project partners

6. 24 calendars made7. 11 pictures dictionaries created8. English song book created9. 8 coloring books created10. Salaspils preschool teachers acquainted with the possibilities for integrating English in

everyday work11. Didactic, methodical and visual aids made12. 16 employees have been on work trips to participating countries13. Thematic celebrations and afternoons organized14. Exhibition of children drawings organized15. Materials summarized in presentations

Thank you!

“Let the world always have something that you want to learn, something what you want to do, a place where you want to come, a person whom you want to meet!”