| Teaching ESL to children is challenging but also | | | | children working in groups and in pairs. |
| very rewarding. Before I walk into a class of | | | | 4. |
| 10-year olds, I take a deep breath. Children have | | | | Review, Review, Review. New information is |
| no attention span AT ALL, and so I tell myself to | | | | absorbed and has meaning when it is related to |
| slow right down before I start. Teaching children | | | | information students have already learned. Quickly |
| requires patience and a sense of fun and | | | | review new concepts at the beginning of each |
| playfulness. Even though it seems obvious, a | | | | class. |
| common mistake is to think that children are | | | | 5. |
| simply 'short adults!' This is sure to get you off on | | | | Encourage students to correct themselves and |
| the wrong foot! | | | | other students. Self correction or self-regulation is |
| Here are some tips for teaching ESL to children: | | | | an important part of learning. Students should be |
| 1. | | | | encouraged to ask, "How am I doing?" and "Am I |
| Involve Children in an hands-on Activities. Children's | | | | doing this right?" in an open and non-judgmental |
| minds are incredibly open and they learn by | | | | environment. Children raised in authoritative |
| absorbing ideas and concepts directly. Children | | | | cultures may need additional re-inforcement. |
| need to be actively involved. Get students up and | | | | 6. |
| out of their chairs and moving around. Sing songs, | | | | Use what is learned in different contexts. The |
| and play games. | | | | more contexts used the better, and the more |
| 2. | | | | concrete and 'real life' the contexts the better. |
| Avoid talking for long periods of time. I find that | | | | Make it real for students by talking about them |
| the energy level of the classroom drops lower | | | | and their lives. |
| and lower. Explain an activity quickly and then go | | | | 7. |
| to it. Keep the energy moving! If your planned | | | | Praise, Praise, Praise. Encourage and build students |
| activity is a flop, move on. Keep a few extra | | | | up in a natural way. Learning occurs when |
| activities handy for this purpose. Children need lots | | | | students are motivated and feel good about |
| of stimulation all the time. | | | | themselves. |
| 3. | | | | Looking back on my years of teaching, the |
| Children learn by interacting with each other and | | | | children's classes took a bit of getting used to, but |
| with the teacher. Try to talk to each child | | | | were the most memorable and fun! |
| individually each class. Whenever possible, have | | | | |