Best Ways For Kids to Learn English
Parents are increasingly getting more invested in their child’s English lessons. They want their kids to have English proficiency so that their kids don’t get left behind in an increasingly globalised universe. They feel that the sooner their kids start the better it is. Here, the most important factor is the parents’ interest and encouragement irrespective of the child’s age. You must be wondering- what can parents do to support their kids’ learning.
To build a positive attitude towards the language and towards learning itself, start with yourself. Learning together can be a great way to spend some quality time. It’s also a great way to show your kids that learning through trials and error is better than speaking only when you have perfected your skills.
Children have the natural ability to learn from their surrounding without adult intervention. To help them ace English, get them to play in English. Try hide-n-seek or any other popular games. The aim is to get them to learn English the same way they learned their mother tongue.
Kids love stories. It offers a great opportunity to learn a language. Reading illustrated storybooks to your child widens their vocabulary and enhances their imagination. Encourage them to ask questions about the plot and characters. This will engage them and also activate their vocal and rational tools.
Usually, when we think about language learning, we think about grammar. However early childhood learning should base itself on exposure to the rhythm and sounds of a language rather than technical instructions. When kids learn their mother tongue, they go through the process of listening and piecing together the information. This implies that they are capable of self-learning. They do it through observation, adequate practice and applying trials and error. And this should be the approach. Too much technicality, in the beginning, will make learning monotonous. They might in all likelihood lose interest in the subject.
Kids enjoy the opportunity to play around with things. They love cutting, painting, sticking, glueing and baking things. Encourage this behaviour. But make sure to do it all in English. The activity need not be about English, but instead be a tool to complete the task or activity:
‘Pass me the glue, please.’
‘Can you paint a picture?’
‘Come help me organise this room.’
Phrases like these can be helpful ways to casually introduce English.
You can also, get them enrolled in an appropriate early childhood education program. Why I am stressing on the word ‘appropriate’ is because every child has a varying level of learning. They learn at their own pace. That’s why Kumon a renowned after-school program for math and English determine the ‘just-right’ level of learning before starting the instruction process. This is done by carrying out a diagnostic assessment. When you know your child’s appropriate level of learning and give them the liberty to progress at their own pace, they become more confident about their abilities. Their learning foundation also becomes stronger. And that’s what you should aim for as a parent, rather than mindlessly cramming information into the child’s brain just to enter the ‘Parents of the A+ kids’ bandwagon. Such misadventures will only put unnecessary pressure on your little ones.
