While the children are cute, funny and often eager to learn, and they are also energetic, active and often difficult to keep on any particular task for more than a few minutes at a time. Games, stories and songs are the perfect answer to the challenge of teaching children ESL classes. Background: Why Games and Stories Work
Research is beginning to show that children actually do learn better through games. There are many reasons for this, including the theory of intrinsic motivation.
Intrinsic motivation is the idea that people are motivated to do things because of internal factors. Children are not going to understand the advantages that knowing a second language will give them. They are probably also not thinking that they want to go to school to learn a second language - especially because they are still trying to grasp their first language.
That is why it is important to motivate them to want to do the class activities and children will be more likely to join in and enjoy themselves when given the option to participate in activities that incorporate play and physical movements. Movement is the key to the Learning. Through the movement, the children learn English or acquiring it. Movement plays a central role in how and what children learn, it is in fact, crucial to all Learning. This is why young children appear adults to be constantly moving or busy.
Other research includes the theory of activity-based learning or total physical response. This theory states that movement stimulates neural networks and activates mental capacities, which are not activated when sitting at a desk. Children are more likely to be curious when presented with music, games and total physical response activities, and therefore are more likely to learn and retain knowledge.
Doing the movements develop the Logical thinking abilities. We can’t teach the children in sitting position because they have a little attention span. They can’t sit more. There are other theories that explain why play works in the children ESL classroom. When you use games, songs and stories to teach ESL to your children, you are relying on absorption by repetition. The more they hear and experience the vocabulary that you are teaching them, the more likely they will learn it. But who wants to sit in a class simply repeating words and what they mean? Certainly not three to five year olds. You will soon have a classroom of unruly children who are not learning a thing. If you engage them in a game or song or story that uses the language you are teaching, however, they will understand and use the language simply from the exposure.
By using games, play, movement and song, all things that most children enjoy, learning language will be a fun and positive experience. The environment of play and games is a relaxed environment (as long as you do not use competition at this age) and allows the children to learn without the stress or fear of possible failure.
A final thought on learning through games stems from Dr. Howard Gardner's Theory of Multiple Intelligences. In this theory, Gardner has defined several different areas of learning and also has explained that not everyone learns in the same ways. The intelligences include the following:
- Linguistic intelligence: Learning and using spoken and written language
- Logical-mathematical intelligence: Logically analyzing problems, detecting patterns,
- Musical intelligence: Performing, composing, and appreciating musical
- Bodily-kinesthetic intelligence: Using the whole body or parts of the body to solve problems.
- Spatial intelligence: Recognizing patterns of wide space and confined
- Interpersonal intelligence: Effectively working with
- Intrapersonal intelligence: Understanding self and
Many children will not sing in a group setting or in front of someone else, but they will sing at play and through the music, games, playing children can gain their Vocabulary with the English words. Using ideas for games in your ESL children classroom to teach vocabulary will allow you to reach children in whatever way they best learn. Traditional ESL children classrooms will focus on linguistic-type lessons, but with a little creativity and variety in the types of games used in the classroom, teachers can begin to appeal to all children by tapping into their different learning styles.
They can learn numbers when building a block tower and counting to see how high they can build it. They can learn colors when using crayons to color a picture. They can learn vocabulary (in their own language) by playing make-believe with other children or adults. Their minds are like sponges that absorb so much when they are engaged in activities they enjoy.
The more smoothly teachers can make the class period go; the more likely teachers will be successful in teaching vocabulary and language to their ESL children.
- Children have small attention spans. Because of it, teachers need to change up their activities every five to ten minutes or so because if they go longer than that, the children can become restless and teachers will spend more time trying to keep their attention than actually doing the
- Engage children on multiple levels. This includes using fine and large motor movement, singing, talking, listening and looking. For example, you could have a game where the children need to move around the room to stand next to a picture or object of the word they heard teachers say in engage them through listening, looking and
- Children can get very excitable. Vary excitable games with quiet ones to balance out the energy level in the
- Competition in the children classroom causes undue stress on the children. Avoid playing games or doing activities that have winners and losers. Either have the class work together to "win" as a group or do not distinguish between winning and losing. On the same note, be sure to be supportive and encouraging to all of the learners in your
- Children are very visual. Bring in real objects whenever possible. When it is not possible, find colorful and vivid pictures to use in place of the actual
- Children usually are not yet reading and writing (at least not to a large extent) in their own language, so don't expect them to do it in a second language. At this age, teacher can expect them to listen and understand first. After a while, they will begin speaking individual words and short
- Repeat, review and revise. Teacher need to periodically review the vocabulary that teacher have previously taught or the children will quickly forget
- Using the same game over and over again, or let a game go on too long. You'll get bored and so will the children!
- Don't expect children to actually speak the words right away. It will take a while. Just keep going and keep playing the games so that they at least understand the words that they are learning. The speaking will
If teacher and the children are enjoying themselves while engaged in English games and stories, then the chances are the children will be learning.
Fortunately, children’s brains are hard-wired to learn languages, especially before the age of 6. But children can acquire language skills at any age with encouragement and support. English has particular challenges because there are so many words that sound the same, but have different meanings: there are many irregular verbs, too[1].
It’s helpful for children to associate English with an important person like a parent, grandparent or care giver. Have that person speak to the child mostly in English. Helping the child with daily activities such as dressing, bathing, getting into the car and taking a walk, parents need use the opportunity to ask how things are said in English. Saying something like, “This is your shoe. Can you say “shoe”? Making it a game so it’s fun. Arrange child to play English-speaking children around the same age. Parents need to explain to them that their child is just learning English, but can speak another language. And they need to keep an eye out to make sure that their child is comfortable. Reading English picture books and letting the child repeat words. After a while, she will remember the story so she can “read” it to parents. With a child who can read, using art supplies to make labels together to mark things in the house like “door”, “bed”, and “chair”. Its best if the child already knows the words for these things before you make the labels because the spelling can be confusing[2].
Getting a collection of music and DVD’s that are appropriate for the child’s age.
Play them (and children’s TV shows) for the child. . Sing easy songs in English together.
Music is the Universal language.
How to Teach English to kids Using Songs- Music is the universal language and children respond very strongly to song. Singing together with other children, a teacher or another adult is a joy for kids. It is a fun way for children learning English to increase their vocabulary and pronunciation skills in English. Following the steps below will enable you to choose and teach songs to children that they will love and learn from.
Music is more than just music – it’s a learning language. When young children sing, play, move- the sounds, rhythms and movements of the activities enhance their emotional, social, physical and cognitive growth. And through singing, playing, doing movements includes a strong literature component, encouraging the development of important skills such as listening, sequencing, anticipation and early literacy. And like these English lesson help children learn how learn and to have fun while they’re at it.
Singing is a Natural way for children to express their innate creativity and growing sense of rhythm and melody. And to fill up their vocabulary.
Movement activities help children to the coordination and brain development.
Story time helps children to new vocabulary and prepares them for reading.
Focused Listening activities give children an opportunity to practice the skills of attention and careful listening.
Language Development
Teaching ESL (English Second Language) through Fun-Natural Way, Singing, playing, dancing and making different movements. - develop “Whole Child” it means: their Social, Language, Emotional, Physical, and Cognitive developments.
Singing songs, playing various games and hearing and telling stories help children learn form words and phrases, speak expressively.
Love is the Magic Power to Teach children For Learning
At first teachers need to win kid’s Love. If kids love and respect his/her teacher, they’ll react to teacher’s speech very quick. And they’ll become more attentive to the lesson. Their love to the teacher makes them to be interested in learning. Because they want to explore the new world with their teacher with the people whom they like. We need not to forget about one thing. “Home is the best place to learn” Home is a Family. Is a teacher “Family” to the children? Yes, because they have love. Of course with the love children feel themselves comfortable as they are at home. When children feel a sense of security, they’ll enjoy in Learning. Every child can learn everything when they’ll feel themselves comfortable.
The list of used literature:
- Бородич A.M. «Методика развития речи детей» Москва 1981 г.
- Рубинштейн СЛ. основы общей психологии СПБ.