3. Exploring our current understanding and practice

While adults have to work through the system of a foreign language, studying grammar rules, practicing drills, the young learners learn naturally, absorbing the sounds, structures, intonation patterns. They benefit from flexible ear and speech muscles that can hear the critical differences between the sounds of a foreign/second language, as well as reproduce them with native-like quality.

Thinking questions

• What are the benefits of learning language young?

• In your opinion what can be wrong with the approaches to teach English to young learners?
• What skills and competences do/will you need to be able to tech English to children?
• Do you use the means of arts in your practice? If yes, list issues why it could be a successful method.

Task 1 List what your teaching objectives and the content that are suitable to the children’s needs.

Task 2 Think through your techniques and activities that support your objectives.

Task 3 Can you accept these ideas in your context?

By learning English children gain

• an expanded world view
• greater intercultural appreciation
• the ability to learn additional languages
• competitive competences in future markets

By applying the means of arts young learners will 

• learn to work with various materials (such as chalk, crayons, finger paints, pencils, paints,  

  pens, markers, fabric, shells, dried pasta, digital tools, glue, tape, string).

• sing folk, nursery rhymes and children’s songs

• to move in response to music.

• to use finger and hand puppets to tell stories, share and create.

Task 4 What are the teachers’ perceptions of their roles and responsibilities, including the challenges they face in your country?

Task 5 Explore how local policy to language pedagogy can be effective and how these may resonate globally.