Making teaching English more child-friendly

He’s in love with a paper dancer. He has only one leg. He’s made of tin.

She’s in love with a prince. She lives in a very high tower. She has very long hair.

His father is a wood-carver. He has a long nose. He is a wooden puppet.

She fails to marry the prince she loves. She doesn’t have legs. She is from the ocean.

Reason for learning English Ability to manage behaviour Priority to meaning Direct experience and activity Creative use of language Language chunks

Exposure Input Repetition Friendly environment Motivation Purpose Time Interaction

Fun Meaningful contexts Motivation Ideas & ethical behaviour Fluency Recycling Cost

get children’s seated appropriately get their attention revise vocabulary or recall previous learning experience relate topic to their experience give children an interesting purpose for listening and something to do as they listen tell the story using actions and gestures and involve children e.g. in doing actions, making noises. Get children to predict what will happen Get children’s reaction/opinions about the story Retell the story using picture prompt/realia etc

using of visuals and realia give a purpose for listening teacher’s language/body language e.g. clear voice/delivery varied pace and pause eye contact show interest through body language use of repetition of key language involve children through: getting them to predict what will happen doing actions e.g. showing hunger and thirst joining in the repeated phrases e.g. I’m hungry helping teacher to hold up visuals/puppets allowing children to respond or comment in L1

Visuals Big books Scanning Internet downloads Coloring pages Drawing and coloring Posters, magazine photos Realia