Amanda Vira – 120221414932
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Teaching English for young learners is
different to adults. Young learners learn English with fun way. What is that
means? Because of have to learn English in young age, young learners are easily
to get bored and feel difficult if the material is too hard. That is why we as
teachers have to make the classroom condition more alive and fun to achieve the
goal. The English teachers are not only able to teach well, but also know the
things which are related to teach English for young learners. There are three
parts that I will explain, which are, the importance of learning English,
classification of young learners, and how to teach English for young learners.
Before
we are going to how to teach English for young learners, maybe you feel curious
why they have to learn English in young age? There are three important reasons
why they have to learn English, which are, English as international language,
prepare them to be bilingual people, and open up their opportunities to be
employable. The most important one is English is international language.
English is use to communicate with other people from other countries. So, they
do not have to learn every language of all the countries have. English is
common language that foreigner speak. Another important reason is we prepared
them to be bilingual people. It is important to prepare them in young age to form
them ready for the future. Despite sometimes English is difficult to learn. The
least important reason is the United States is a leader in technology and
economic development. If they can speak English it will open up their
opportunities to be international people and employable in every country in the
world, not only in the United States. In the United States, English speakers
earn more money than non-English speakers. Thus, English will increase their
standard of living.
Now,
after we know why English is important, the next is who are young learners. We
classify young learners by ages or grade levels, because every one year
difference or grade level makes a big difference in learning something. There
are three class of young learners, which are very young learners (age 3-6 years
old), young learners (7-9 years old), and older/late young learners (10-12
years old). At age 3-6 or pre-school grade, they learn on listening and
speaking courses. The materials are vocabulary items which are familiar objects
and no grammar study, because they cannot analyze language, but by language
chunks and songs. In this class there is no reading and writing courses, maybe
learn about words. In this class just emphasize listening and speaking courses,
because the characteristics of very young learners are love talking, but
problems in sharing, have short memories (learn slowly and forget easily), and
low concentration, but easily excited. At young learners which are age 7-9
years old or 1st-3rd grade, have the same courses focus
with very young learners. The listening and speaking courses is explaining
vocabulary item which are familiar and new objects. Still no grammar teaching,
but they start to learn through chunks, songs and classroom language. In this
class reading and writing is explain. If in the previous class they just learn
words, in this class their level is sentences. The characteristics of young
learners’ class are, love to ask questions, low concentration so wide kinds of
activities are needed, and build confidence in expressing themselves. The last
class is older/late young learners which are 10-12 years old or 4th-gth
grade. Their language focuses are all the base of English, which are,
listening, speaking, writing, reading, and grammar. In grammar course, they
learn using particular facts and examples to make them understand. So, they
still learn by concreting with the daily life and some abstracts. Their
characteristics are longer attention, learning seriously, developed social and
more cooperation.
After
we know the classification of young learners, now let us discuss the step of
teaching English for young learners. To make class always in fun is important
so teachers have to make classroom condition more alive and fun. There are
three steps that must be done, which are, language chunks, using media, and
topic based activities. The first step is language chunks. Teachers always use the
same phrases, such as good morning, open your book. For the first time students
do not know the meaning of those phrases. In practicing speaking English, the
students need to know phrases which have complete meaning. Teachers not just
say it but also give the function of those phrases. For example, say “Good
morning” when students meet their friends or teachers in the morning, if in the
afternoon they have to say “Good afternoon”, and so forth. Also try to use
other phrases and use it in proper condition or action so that students will
discover new phrases and understand when to use it. When students collected
their tasks to teacher, the teacher said “Thank you”, then the teacher explain
when “Thank you” is used. So that when they are given something by someone,
they should say “Thank you”. The next step is using media. We do not
communicate through words alone. As I said before, young learners learn English
with fun way so that we as teachers have to create classroom situations to be
more alive and fun. The media make students easier to understand and comprehend
the materials, so that, media help the teachers to deliver the materials.
Teachers’ posture, eye contact, movements, and facial expressions can help
students understand more. Do not forget to talk loud enough, clear, easy to
understand, and interesting intonation. For example still with the phrase, when
we say “Good morning” to friends, we can say it with smiling and waving our
hand, and also with cheerful intonation. So, that the friends that we are
greet, feel that we are happy to meet them and feel cheerful too. Now, give
students chance to practice to do it. Still in media aids, teachers can use
pictures and visual media. Use these tools to resemble closer the real world,
and to make them to use the language and learn to love it by experience of
being able to communicate in another language. The last step is topic based
activities. Topic based activities is begin with subjects which are appropriate
or relevance and interesting for students. It is designed to make students
involve by investigating the topic that chosen and using the language as the
main point of teaching English for young learners. The materials are based on
students’ experience and interesting topic. As in Hudelson (1991: 258), learners
will be more likely to be motivated to use the new language if their attention
is focused on a topic or subject that they have an interest in or care about.
They can associate many words, situations, and conditions that related to the
topic. When they associating the materials, it helps the students to memorizing
and knows what content usually discuss in particular topic. For example, the
topic is “Wake up”, what time usually they wake up, after they wake up what
they usually do, and so forth. They can associate many words, situations, and
conditions that related to the topic.
In a nut shell, before we start to teach
English for young learners, it is better to know the concrete things related to
young learners. The key of teaching English for young learners is to always
make fun with the class condition and always makes them to get involved with
the materials that we are given. There are many ways to make young learners
have some fun when learning English. Then, we can be good teachers to help our
students to be international people by English. Therefore, learning English is
not always with straight and common way. Make students feel the fun experiences
of learning English. When we love enjoy and love something, although is hard,
we are still trying to pass it.
3. Ersöz, A. (2007). Teaching
English to young learners. Ankara: EDM Publishing.
4. Teaching English to Young Learners and Factors to
Consider in Designing the Materials - By: Sukarno (Faculty of Languages and Arts Yogyakarta State University)
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