Unit 2. Basic Principles Of Teaching To Young Learners 4s1r5b

Unit 2: Basic Principles of Teaching to Young Learners Children have a reputation for having natural language learning ability. They can learn fast and easy. Young learners have emotional, cognitive and linguistic characteristics that most primary level learners share and teachers need to ensure their fully involving in learning process. The most young learners are: 1. Energetic and physically active (can’t sit still for a long period, want to get up and move, have dynamic energy); 2.Spontaneous and not afraid to speak out or participate (willing to participate in activities and speak out in English without feeling embarrassed, good imitators of language, not afraid to repeat after teacher, sing songs- even if they don’t know English very well or even if they don’t know meaning of some word); 3. Curious and receptive to new ideas (natural curiosity, want to learn more, new and interesting topics); 4. Imaginative and enjoy make-believe (like to use imagination, like the role plays and drama games, like to pretend that they are somebody/ something else, like to make and dress costumes and masks); 5. Easily distracted and have short attentions spans (easily distracted, short attentions spans, not concentrate on long activities except if activities are fun and interesting to them); 6. Egocentric and relate new ideas to themselves (egocentric, centered on themselves and their surroundings, they have difficulties to see things from another person’s perspective); 7. Social and learning to relate to others (very social, like to talk to each other, like to play games with each other). Teachers have to identify learners’ characteristics and choose appropriate classroom environment and activities. The young child's environment that includes interesting visual aspects draws them to examine a painting on the wall or recognize a drawing that they have completed. Displays and s provide visually interesting content to examine as children move about in the classroom space. Music and sound patterns stimulate several portions of the young child's brain. A variety of music and instruments can expand the sound world of young children, while developing musical enjoyment. Singing in circle time and during transitions encourages the children to discriminate sounds and identify familiar patterns. Making music with simple rhythm instruments provides opportunities for children to connect the object with the sound that it produces and to control the production. Recordings of vocals, instrumentals, and folk instruments provide another listening experience that expands the auditory environment for young children. The appropriate emotional environment also respects young children, while understanding individual differences. This means that each child has a place to collect "valuable" things—their pictures and work are displayed in the classroom. References: Shin, J. K. & Crandall, J. (2014). Teaching Young Learners English: From Theory to Practice. Boston: Heinle ETL, Cengage Learning