Teaching English for Young Learners
Speaking about English, come to our mind that English is
the second language. As we know that the second language (L2) is English, and
the first language (L1) is mother tongue (Shin, Joan Kang). English is international
language, so we must know this language. Therefore, we are teach student since
attain the age of 5/6 years old. We give basis of English. Teaching English for
Young Learners (TEYL) need some method to learning. This is not easy like we
are just dream up, because the kids have a different level of the emotional
between adolescent.
According
of detailed examination, (Ulearn International, 2011) said that the kids in the
kindergarten attain the age of 5-6 years old can catch difficult vocabulary,
because they have a different thing to catch the words. Therefore, we can give
a basis of education for young learners, for example: easy vocabulary, short
expressions, a variation media, songs and movement, story, games, drill and
reading aloud, reward. First, we can give easy vocabulary, which the kids can keep
vocabulary in his/her mind, for example: name of animals, colors, numbers, etc.
Second, give short expressions training, thus they can keep on their mind, for
example: stand up!,
Sit down!, Smile!, open the door, etc. Third, use a variation media to teaching
English, like used pictures, video, songs, etc. Fourth, songs and movement,
actually, kids love songs so much. They can remember anything from song, like “twinkle-twinkle
little star”. Fifth, we can order the kids to talk in front of her/his friends
to give a story, or we can give their story, like a fairy tale. And I think we
are knows about games, drill and reading aloud, and reward, don’t forget to
give a reward to them.
After we knows some method from Ulearn International, many method to
teaching English for young learners, we can give the material by videos,
pictures, flashcards technique, singing, games, etc, they can absorb the
lessons from this media. As we know, that the children like something which can
make they feel enjoyable, stated of (BBI team, 2011). Accordingly, we must know
the characteristic of the kids if we want to do the best. Actually, some method
from Ulearn International was same
with BBI team method. But, BBI team has one method which
interesting to do. There is flashcard technique, which can step up a memory of
the kids to remember something.
I
read some books to children “discover interesting things about the world around
of you, learn new word, answer fun questions, found lots of activities to learn
about the world at the back of the book” (Pamela, 2005:1). This is the one of
her books that I read. Therefore, give the material not only just material in
the classroom but also in the other place, which can make the children relax
and get the point. And give the books, which have many colors and unique
character in a story.
In
addition, expert from San Francisco State University (H. Douglas, 1994:90) said
that in the general the kids can’t catch lesson or second language quickly than
in adolescent their eventual success. Actually, give English education is very
important to young learners. And as we know that young learners can catch the
lesson, but can’t fast like adolescent, because young learners need more ability
from the teachers on teaching.
Furthermore, according
to Piaget (1969) (Kasihani, 2010) she said that the kids is brain ware and
learners, and then he said that the basis of implication in the education has 4
phase expansion, 1) sensory motor phase, ages 2 years old, 2) preoperational phase,
ages 2-8 years old, 3) concrete operational phase, ages 8-11 years old, 4)
formal phase, ages 11-15 years old or more than 15 years old. Phase of the
kindergarten is preoperational phase, which the kids in grows up phase and
needs more notice from everybody.
Likewise, we must know the
characteristic of the kids, because the kids have unique characteristic. The
characteristic expert (Slatterly, M., & Willis, J, 2001) said that the kids
under 7 years old have a different characteristic with children 7-12 years old.
The different of both is the way of thinking. Meanwhile, the kids like acquire
through hearing and makes experiencing lots of English. The kids learn with
playing, love playing with language, sound, imitating, and of course, making
funny noises. And then they are not be able to organize their learning and read
or write. It is important to recycle language with talk and play. Their grammar
will develop gradually on its own when exposed to lots of English in context. Therefore,
the characteristic of the kids is very unique.
In addition, this is just the
background of teaching English for young learners. And after we know about the
methods and characteristic of the kindergarten or the kids, this is the way how
to approach for young learners. According to (Read, 1998) mapping to survey the
challenge of teaching kindergarten or kids, this is can measure your ability.
From the explanation above, we
can know that Teaching English for Young Learners (TEYL) is important, because
we must give some foundation to kids. There is can habituating the kids to love
the second language or especially English language. But don’t forget about our
language is Indonesian language. Used the method, learns characteristic, and
learning with fun can make classroom be alive.
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