Tips on How to Teach a Child English as a Second Language

[littlesunshine]

Hi Teachers,

This time I'm back with some tips on how to teach children English as a second language. I hope this article will help you as an ESL teacher.

1. Use lots of visuals
Images are great for supporting learning. A child may not understand that the word ‘pencil’ means pencil, but they recognise what a picture of a pencil is. By combining text with images, children will be able to better develop their understanding.

2. Keep it simple
This is especially important when dealing with beginners. Try to keep sentences simple so that learners can develop their knowledge, and then you can build on it. You could, for example, ensure their understanding of simple instructions that you’ll be using in class. These could be things like ‘stop and listen’ or ‘put your pens down’.

3. Keep it fun

4. Use role-play
Role-play is a fantastic way to develop your learners’ speaking skills and their confidence. By giving them various role-play scenarios, learners will be able to develop and practise their different vocabulary in fun ways. And role-play can also be really useful for those just watching. If certain learners don’t feel confident enough to get up in front of their class and pretend to be a customer in a cafe, they can still pick up speaking tips from watching their classmates do it.

5. Mix it up
Learning in just one way quickly leads to children becoming disinterested, disengaged, and disgusted (just kidding, but I couldn’t think of another ‘dis’ to add). By using different formats for learning, whether that be worksheets, games or PowerPoints, learners will stay stimulated.

6. Use technology
Technology is a great way to get children engaged in a lesson. With so many apps, interactive games and platforms out there, there’s lots for a teacher to choose from to use in their lessons.

7. Debate, debate, debate
Using debates can be a fantastic way for your children to develop their speaking skills, persuasive language skills, and so much more. They can also be really fun activities to get involved in.

8. Use stories
Books are a great way for learners to develop their language skills. Stories allow children to use their imagination, picturing impossible places and people, creating a sense of adventure and fun. So using this to help teach language can be brilliantly beneficial for learning.

9. Use verbal and written instructions
If you’re setting a task, don’t just explain it verbally to learners, or just by writing it down on the board either. Use both so that learners can get used to seeing something written down and also hearing it verbally. This is great for helping them learn pronunciation and spelling.

10. Use English holidays
Using English holidays can be a fantastic way to create a fun classroom environment. Whether you look at Christmas, Halloween, or Valentine’s Day, you can find resources to support your teaching on that topic. This can give children a chance to also get creative and explore other cultures.

Read more tips here: https://www.twinkl.co.id/blog/20-tips-o ... d-language

[Mr Greg]

A fantastic list!

Immerse the child in the language and they will pick it up!

[stepbystep]

Great list! I think #1~3 are covered in the videos we make for children (link in signature). If you like them please feel free to show them to your students. We try to keep the language spoken as simple as possible and have visuals on the screen to correspond with the material in a fun and engaging way.