Teaching Younger Students English

Young children are able to learn a lot of things easier than their parents or grandparents. This is because they are very self-motivated. They do not think about how difficult it is to learn, they simply think about the learning aspects of putting in as much effort as possible to do well. This makes them easy for any teacher to work with.

Keeping It Fun

Young children enjoy playing. You can use this to your advantage by having them play games that will encourage them to learn English. This may be letter games, sounds, and eventually role-playing conversations in their new language. You should also ensure that they use English daily if you want for them to learn it fluently. Keep in mind as their teacher that they do not “learn” English. It is simply something that they will acquire through use and much the same as when they were babies trying to learn their native language, they will also need to listen first to hear how it all ties together. You can best do this by speaking in their language and then translating it into English.

Dealing with Frustration

Frustration and mistakes are something that can seriously let a child down. Once a child becomes frustrated, they will not want to learn as much as they should. Therefore, instead of telling a child that they have made a mistake, instead, correct it with a sentence that counteracts their mistake. For instance, if they say they, “goed” somewhere, correct it with something similar, “did you have fun when you went?” This will help keep the frustration to a minimum and ensures that they will continue to work their hardest.

Follow Their Lead

As young children, if they already know how to read in their native language, they may want to learn how to read English as well. You should follow their lead and teach them the things that they are most excited to learn when they are ready to learn it. This will encourage them to constantly strive to learn more.