Best Practices for Teaching English to Young Learners – Meaningful and Purposeful

Paired Discussion How do you use repetition in your class? In other words, what kinds of things do your young learners repeat? Preview 1 Before you answer the questions, let me give you an example of repetition. Give a brief demonstration of repetition that is not meaningful. Here is one way you might use repetition in the classroom: “Ok, class! Repeat after me. Pencil! (Pencil) Eraser! (Eraser) Notebook! (Notebook) Great job!” Was that meaningful? After participants answer, ask Why not? Have participants discuss the questions on the screen in pairs.

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In what ways can repetition be meaningful? Paired Discussion In what ways can repetition be meaningful? Review 1 Did you learn about ways in which repetition can be meaningful? Discuss this with a partner. You have one minute.  Possible answers:  • Through meaningful context • Using songs • Using stories • Using visuals • Through recycling (repetition in a new context)

Match the concepts with the activities. 1 “from the inside” a. activities in which children learn by doing 2 “from the outside” b. teaching language through meaningful contexts 3 in action c. activities in which children have real reasons to use language 4 in interaction d. activities like pair and group work 5 with intention e. teaching grammatical rules explicitly Review 2 Do you remember what Lynn Cameron wrote?  See if participants can quote it. Then read the quote: “…children see the foreign language 'from the inside' and try to find meaning in how the language is used in action, in interaction, and with intention, rather than 'from the outside' as a system and form.”  Now, let's do a matching activity to show your comprehension of how to teach language to children. Answers: • “from the inside” – teaching language through meaningful contexts • “from the outside” – teaching grammatical rules explicitly • in action – activities in which children learn by doing • in interaction –activities like pair and group work • with intention –activities where children have real reasons to use language

What is recycling in the context of the English language classroom? Repeating language learned in the previous class Using previously learned language in a new context Collecting your students’ papers and reusing them for another activity Reviewing what was previously learned at the beginning of class Review 3 Call on a participant to read the choices and answer the question. Answer: Using previously learned language in a new context