Learning English for Young Children

Learning English for young children is a long process that requires repetition and patience. The
goal is to automate the basics of English by reviewing them for 5 minutes at the beginning of
each lesson. The aim is to teach them the basics needed for starting a class in English in a
primary school, as well as the basics of comprehension and conversation. This foundational
knowledge is crucial for engaging in more complex games and acquiring advanced vocabulary.
They must be able to create and understand simple sentences; without these basics, progress is
impossible.

Teaching Approach

Step-by-Step Progression: Progress is slow and matches the group's pace, only moving on
to new topics when 80% of the group has assimilated the current one.
Versatility: Multiple topics are covered simultaneously to prevent information overload and
boredom.
Essential Basics: Greetings, feelings, colors, weather, family, body parts, food, simple verbs,
days of the week, etc. These basics are repeated in every session until they are well
assimilated and automated.

As long as these topics are not assimilated, the language foundations are insufficient to advance
the class level. Once I assess that the class has reached a certain level, I start incorporating
English conversation sessions.

Beginning of Lesson Rituals

These rituals, lasting a maximum of 10 minutes, consist of structured and reassuring oral
exchanges, allowing each student to express themselves freely without fear of evaluation. They
aim to reinforce language structures and create authentic communication situations.

Examples of Questions Asked:

What's the day today?

What time is it?
What did you do last weekend?
What’s your name?
How old are you?
What is your favorite food/color/actor/singer?
How many brothers/sisters do you have?
 What’s your favorite TV series/film? Why?
What sport do you like?

Classroom Interaction

Students lead these oral expression activities, involving as many students as possible in each
session. This allows for continuous and interactive language practice.

Expected Results When Starting English at a Young Age

When convinced of the importance of learning a language from a young age, parents might be
tempted to push for quick progress. However, considering the pillars of learning mentioned
earlier and the specific methods that work for children learning English, the following best
practices should be observed:

Attention and Engagement: The child's attention and engagement are crucial. Identify the
best times of day for your child to learn.
Repetition: Consolidating knowledge through at least three repetitions is essential. Allow
the child to assimilate at their own pace. Some may need only three repetitions, others
more, and that's okay.
Repetition Importance: Given that lessons occur only once a week, the likelihood of
forgetting is ten times higher compared to daily practice. Therefore, repeating all basic
knowledge until automation is crucial for moving on to more complex games, rhymes, and
books.
Sufficient Sleep: Adequate sleep is a good catalyst for embedding learning.
Enjoyment: It is important to let the child express and repeat words and songs naturally,
even if they aren't the latest learned.

Long-Term Results in Learning English for Children

Each child is unique and has their own pace. The most important aspect of learning English for a
young child is not reaching a specific level, number of words, or phrases but fostering a desire to
learn. This desire will accompany them throughout their English learning journey, providing the
necessary resources to overcome each step.

Attention: Attention acts as a filter to select information and modulate its processing. The
learner must be alert to learn.
Active Engagement: A passive organism does not learn. Active engagement is needed to
promote learning.
 Feedback on Errors: Errors are normal, inevitable, and essential for progress. The brain
compares predictions with sensory information, and the resulting error signal allows for
correction and improvement.
Consolidation of Knowledge: Learning involves transferring explicit knowledge to implicit
knowledge through repetition.

Effective Methods for Teaching English to Young Children

Regularity: Regular review of sessions at least three times helps children integrate and self-
correct unconsciously.
Oral Transmission and Imitation: Learning a language intuitively and naturally involves
understanding the context rather than translating. Neuroscience indicates that mirror
neurons in the brain are activated by observing and performing movements, which is
beneficial for learning.

Playing Games in English When They Are Ready

Fun learning is always more effective, especially for young children. Here are some ideas for
English games:

Simon Says: The English equivalent of "Jacques a dit" to teach simple instructions like
"jump!", "sing!", or "crouch down!".
Start and End: Players say words where the next word starts with the last letter of the
previous word. For example, "home" followed by "english".
I Spy: Identify an object and describe it by color or another adjective, prompting children to
ask questions until they guess the object.

This method ensures that children enjoy learning and gradually build a strong foundation in
English.
Months Main Activities Objectives
/weeks Theme

1 Greetings - Song Learn to say hello and goodbye

"Hello,
Goodbye"-
Role-playing
with
puppets to
say hello
and goodbye

2 Colors - Song "Red, Learn the names of colors

Yellow,
Green,
Blue"-
Sorting
game with
objects by
color

3 Body Parts - Song Identify and name body parts

"Head,
Shoulders,
Knees and
Toes"<br>-
Simon Says
game with
body parts

4 Family - Song Learn the names of family

"Finger members
Family"and
<baby
shark>-

5 Food - Song "Do Learn the names of different foods

You Like
 Broccoli Ice
Cream?"
<br>- Sorting
game with
food images
into "I like"
and "I don't
like"
categories
6 Feelings - Song "If Identify and express feelings
You're
Happy and
You Know It"
<happy
happy clap
your hands>-
Mime game
with
emotions
(happy, sad,
angry, etc.)

7 Weather - Song Learn the words for different types

"What's the of weather
Weather
Like
Today?"Expl
ain how they
feel in witch
weather

8 Animals - Song "Old Learn the names of animals

MacDonald
Had a Farm"
<br>-
Guessing
game with
animal
pictures
9 Clothes - Song "Put Learn the names of clothes
On Your
Shoes"- find
the right
name
according to
how they
dressing up

10 Numbers - Song "Ten Count from 1 to 10

(1-10) Little
Fingers"
<br>-
Counting
game with
real objects

11 Shapes - Song Learn the names of geometric

"Shapes shapes
Song"<br>-
Drawing and
cutting
activity with
shapes

12 General - Board Consolidate acquired knowledge

Review games and
songs from
all previous
lessons

Program Objectives

Basic Vocabulary: Introduce and practice basic English vocabulary through songs, games,
and interactive activities.
Interaction and Communication: Encourage children to use English in simple, fun
communication situations.
Repetition and Reinforcement: Regularly repeat words and phrases to help children
memorize and automate their use.
 Enjoyment and Motivation: Maintain a fun and engaging learning environment to
stimulate children's interest and motivation in learning English.

Please understand that the number of children in the class affects the pace and the feasibility of
certain activities. The group's energy and the assistance provided by the teacher in managing
the students greatly impact the program.

I rely heavily on the group’s dynamics and the children's ability to absorb the material based on
their levels and concentration. The pace may vary, and we might finish or start new themes
faster or slower. Taking it step-by-step is the only way to ensure that we don’t lose any slower
learners along the way.

This is my personal program and not one used by other teachers. The company allows us the
freedom to create our own curriculum as language teachers. Additionally, please note that I
speak British English, having learned it near London.

In case of any questions, misunderstandings, disagreements, or special requests, please reach

out to me directly. Use Papago if needed to help me address and resolve your concerns directly
with you, and to get your feedback in real-time. Contacting the company doesn’t allow me to
clearly understand your requests and improve things effectively.

Thank you in advance for your understanding.

Luna Teacher ;)