Teaching EFL for Young Learners -...
41
Teaching EFL for Young Learners ELTA-Albania, May 2013 Amber Warren, Indiana University, USA
-
Upload
nguyenminh -
Category
Documents
-
view
235 -
download
0
Transcript of Teaching EFL for Young Learners -...
Teaching EFL for Young Learners ELTA-Albania, May 2013 Amber Warren, Indiana University, USA
Think about it/Talk about it
• When did you first begin learning English?
• What were your English classes in school like?
• Did you enjoy your English class?
• How old are your students?
• What are their English classes like?
• Do they seem to enjoy the class?
Presenter
Presentation Notes
This activity is called Think-Pair-Share. You can use it any time, but it works great at the beginning of a lesson to activate students’ prior knowledge. It is also good for shy learners, or students who are not comfortable speaking English in front of a group. Begin by asking a question (or, for more advanced learners, you can ask multiple questions, like I did). Give students time to think about their own answers (silently). Then ask students to pair up and share their responses. Finally, you can ask some of the partners to share their responses with the whole group. Record their responses on a big piece of paper or on the board. Read them back together.
Who are Young Learners?
• Students who are 7-12 years old
• May be simultaneously learning how to read and write in their native language
• Benefit from strategies designed to capitalize on how children learn
What do we know about how children learn?
Piaget says…
• Children learn through actions and exploration (learn by doing)
• They relate new ideas to the themselves and their immediate surroundings (make connections to things they know)
Vygotsky says…
• We learn through social interaction with a more experienced other (the Zone of Proximal Development)
And Bruner says… Parents scaffold learning for their children, providing input that supports and promotes the cognitive growth of the child
Scaffolding
• Create interest in the task
• Break big tasks down into smaller steps
• Model the task (show students how to do something before you ask them to do it alone)
• Remind students of the goal or purpose for doing a task
• Help students identify the “big ideas” in each task
We help children learn language when what we ask them to do is…
Full of practice Supported Meaningful
Purposeful Enjoyable Social
Read, 1998
Technique 1: Extend Vocabulary
Practice
What do you think? Are these statements true or false? Thumbs up for true. Thumbs down for false!
1. Research suggests that students need to see a word 7-10 times to learn the word.
2. Vocabulary is easiest to learn when it is taught in lexical “sets” (e.g. words that end in –op, words that mean “happy”).
3. We should only use the target language when teaching new vocabulary.
4. “Knowing” a word means more than being able to give a definition.
Presenter
Presentation Notes
This strategy is called an Anticipation Guide. It is a great way to introduce a new topic. It sparks students’ interest in the topic. It also activates their prior knowledge because it gets them thinking about what they already know. To create an anticipation guide, think of several simple statements about the topic you are going to introduce. Make some of them true and some of them false. Share the statements with your students orally, in writing, or both. Give students time to decide which ones are true and which ones are false. Ask students to share their responses with you. Answer Key: 1. True (Nation, 1990); 2. False (Nation, 2000); 3. False (Cook, 2001) ; 4. True (Nation, 2005)
Four levels of word knowledge
I know the word well and can use it with confidence.
I know the meaning a little bit. I can associate it with a concept or context.
I’ve seen it or heard it, but I don’t know what it means.
I’ve never seen or heard the word before.
Teaching Vocabulary
• Students develop knowledge about a word slowly, through repeated exposure to the word
• Introduce terms in context to help make vocabulary meaningful to students
• Define and demonstrate terms for students
• Use your resources- providing a translation in the L1 is okay!
4-Corners Word Chart Illustration Sentence
It is raining today.
Definition Rain comes from the clouds.
Word
Rain
Personal Dictionaries • Designate part of Students’ Notebooks
to be a Personal Dictionary
• Allow time for students to enter new vocabulary in their books
• Encourage students to illustrate and write a definition in their own words OR make a definition as a class
• Dictionaries can be organized alphabetically (A,B,C…), by theme, or by chapter
Word Walls
• Designate wall space for your English Word Wall
• Use notecards or strips of paper
• Allow students to write words themselves
• Encourage students to illustrate the words
• Limit number of words
Games
• Vo-BACK-ulary
• Hot Seat
• Teacher May I
• Teacher Says
• 20 Questions
Presenter
Presentation Notes
Vo-BACK-ulary: Print vocabulary words on cards (or post-it notes). Each student gets one word to put on his/her back. Students must try to help each other guess the words on their backs by acting or by giving clues. Hot Seat: One student sits in the front of the room (in the “hot seat”). The teacher or another student writes a word on the board. The rest of the class must try to give clues to help the student in the “hot seat” guess the word. Teacher May I: This game works best outside or in a big, mostly empty space. Students line up on one end of the room. Teacher stands at the other end. Teacher holds up word cards. Students must raise hand if they know the word. Teacher then calls on ONE student to say the word (or define the word, or act out the word). If student is right, he or she gets to take one step forward. If he or she is wrong, teacher calls on another student. The first student to reach the teacher wins. Teacher says: Like “Simon Says.” Teacher gives commands with vocabulary. (Example: “Teacher says wave your hand.” or “Teacher says gallop like a horse.”) Students must follow commands. If students do the wrong motion, students sit down. If the teacher does not use the phrase “teacher says” and the students follow the command anyway, they are also out. The game is to listen to the teacher! 20 Questions: Teacher (or student) thinks of a vocabulary word. Students must ask YES/NO questions to figure out the word. (Example: Is it an animal? Is it big? Does it eat meat?) This is good for practicing grammar too!
Technique 2: Incorporate different ways of learning
What’s my category?
Interviewing Miming (Act it out)
Writing on the Board
Clapping in a rhythm
Watching a short video
Chanting or Singing
Illustrating (Drawing)
Turn and tell a friend
Coloring Listening to a story
Performing a play
Practicing a dialogue
Presenter
Presentation Notes
This is a Concept Sort. A concept sort is an introduction strategy that uses new and known vocabulary to get students thinking and talking about a topic. To make a concept sort, choose vocabulary words related to a theme or topic (example: sports, foods, pets, travel). Put each word in a separate box or on a separate piece of paper. The goal is to decide how to organize the words into categories, or groups of similar items. (example: travel vocabulary might include “things we pack,” “types of transportation,” and “places we go.”) Students can work in small groups or pairs to sort the vocabulary into categories. The words on this slide can be sorted in different ways. Here is one possible answer: Spatial-visual learning: illustrating, coloring, watching a video Musical learning: chanting/singing, clapping in a rhythm Bodily-kinesthetic (movement) learning: miming, performing a play Auditory learning: practicing a dialogue, turn and tell a friend, listening to a story Linguistic: writing on the board, practicing a dialogue Here is another: Group or Pair Activities: interviewing, turn and tell a friend, performing a play, practicing a dialogue Individual Activities: miming, writing, clapping, watching a video, chanting, illustrating, coloring, listening to a story
Grouping and pair-work: Why try it?
• Knowledge is actively constructed through interaction in
collaboration within a social context (Aljaafreh & Lantolf, 1994)
• Students actively assist one another through collaboration in dialogic events (Donato, 1994)
• Engages students in content and creates more student-talk time
Ways to group students
• Individual work
• Partners (2) or Triads (3)
• Small Groups (4-6)
• Whole Class
• By Language Proficiency Level
• (High-Mid, Mid-Low)
• High-High, Mid-Mid, Low-Low)
More about Grouping
Strategies • Think/Pair/Share
• Turn & Tell a Friend
• Numbered Heads Together
Organization • Be clear about rules for
behavior in groups
• Give all students a turn to participate
• Have a signal for bringing the class back together
Presenter
Presentation Notes
Think/Pair/Share (see slide 2) Turn & Tell a Friend: A less formal version of Think/Pair/Share. Teacher asks a question and instead of responding to the teacher, students share their response with a nearby student. Numbered Heads Together: Students are placed in groups and each person is given a number (from one to the maximum number in each group). The teacher poses a question and students "put their heads together" to figure out the answer. The teacher calls a specific number to respond as spokesperson for the group.
Technique 3: Storytelling
Brainstorm What is important for the
storyteller? What is important for the
listener?
Put your ideas here… Put your ideas here…
Presenter
Presentation Notes
With a partner, share what you think are the most important aspects of storytelling. Put ideas about important aspects for storytellers on one side of the chart. Put ideas about important aspects for listeners on the other side of the chart. Then, share a few of your ideas with the group! A T-chart organizer like this one is a simple way to help learners organize their thoughts.
Why use stories in the classroom?
• It is an authentic form of communication
• It introduces new cultures to children
• It teaches younger learners in an entertaining way
• It helps develop critical thinking skills
-Shin & Crandall, 2013
Storytelling is authentic communication
• Every culture has storytelling
• Stories can teach lessons
• It allows students to hear language in use
Storytelling involves culture
• Using stories from the target language teaches children about the culture of that language
• Comparing and contrasting versions of the same story can teach children about similarities and differences in multiple cultures
Presenter
Presentation Notes
Comparing “Cinderella” stories across cultures- from left to right: Bae Kkoch (Pear Blossom), Korea Rhodopis (Rosy Cheeks), Egypt Cinderella (“Little Ash” Girl), USA Yeh-Shen, China
Storytelling is engaging and develops critical thinking
• Stories are appealing to students’ imaginations
• Storytelling hides the work of language learning in a fun activity
• Storytelling can help young learners acquire language unconsciously
• Teachers can ask questions about stories that help students learn to predict, make comparisons, identify facts from fiction, and state opinions
• Retelling involves making decisions about what’s important
Stories should…
• Be highly predictable (lots of repetition)
• Be familiar to students
• Include lots of known vocabulary
• Invite the use of TPR, drama, visuals and realia
Before you tell a story • Review grammar or vocabulary students have already learned
• Pre-teach important new vocabulary words and expressions
• Show students an image from the story and ask them to guess what the story will be about
• Engage students in “active listening” by giving them a job to do during the story • Listen for the ______________ • Whenever you hear ___________ do ____________
While you tell a story
• Use pictures, realia, or other props to help you tell the story
• Use lots of expression and emotion
• Speak slowly (but not too slowly!) and clearly so your students can follow what you are saying
After you tell a story
• Use a post-storytelling strategy to • Check for understanding
• Allow students to practice the new vocabulary or expressions
• Encourage creativity
Version 1 Predict: What will my story be about?
Presenter
Presentation Notes
1. Use a picture to engage your students and spark their prior knowledge. Ask guiding questions to help them recall important vocabulary. For example: Where do sharks live? What do sharks eat? Are all sharks mean? 2. Pre-teach important vocabulary (words that will appear in the story, but which the students might not already know, like jaws, attack, fierce). 3. Give students an “active listening” job (for example: whenever you hear the word shark, move your hands like a shark’s mouth).
A non-fiction story about sharks
This is a shark. A shark lives in the ocean. A shark can be big or small. They eat fish. They can use their jaws full of teeth to catch food. A shark can be fierce. But, that is because they are hungry. When a shark sees a fish move, it might attack it.
Post-storytelling activity: Say it again! Repeat the story. This time when you come to the word “shark” hold up your picture. Every time you hold up your picture, the students should say the word “shark.”
Repeat the story again. Invite students to speak along with you if they remember any of the words. As you tell the story, write the words on the board.
As a whole class, read the story on the board together. Point to each word as you read it. You can then invite students to read sentences individually or in groups.
Version 2 Predict: What will my story be about?
Presenter
Presentation Notes
1. Use a picture to engage your students and spark their prior knowledge. Ask guiding questions to help them recall important vocabulary. For example: Where do sharks live? What do sharks eat? Are all sharks mean? 2. Pre-teach important vocabulary (words that will appear in the story, but which the students might not already know, like jaws, attack, fierce). 3. Give students an “active listening” job (for example: listen for the problem in the story).
A fiction story about sharks Bruce the shark was sad. No one wanted
to be his friend. He tried to use his jaws to smile at the people. But the people screamed and ran away. He did not know the people thought he was fierce. Bruce was not fierce. He did not want to attack the people. Bruce was a friendly shark.
Presenter
Presentation Notes
Tell the story to your students. Remember to use lots of expression and emotion. You may tell the story more than once. When you are finished telling the story, you can check students’ “active listening” by asking for the answer to your question.
Post-storytelling activity: Start and Stop!
Repeat the story. This time, change some things in the story. When students hear something that is different, they should say “stop!” When a student says stop, pause and ask the class what you said that was different. Ask them what you should have said. Then, continue re-telling the story.
Ideas for things to change: vocabulary words, pronunciation, the actions of the characters, the order in which event occur
Writing your own stories
• Pick a topic related to a lesson in your book
• Write a short simple story
• Use some of the vocabulary from the book
• Add some new, related vocabulary (but not too much!)
• It can be fiction or non-fiction
Complete List of Strategies Used in this Presentation
• Think-Pair-Share
• Anticipation Guide
• Concept Sort
• Partner Brainstorm
• Say it Again (story re-telling)
• Start and Stop (story re-telling)
References All of these references are OPEN ACCESS.
Cook, V. (2001). Using the first language in the classroom. Canadian Modern Language Review. Retrieved from: http://homepage.ntlworld.com/vivian.c/Writings/Papers/L1inClass.htm
Donato, R. (1994). Collective scaffolding in second language learning. In Vygotskian approaches to second language research. Norwood, NJ: Ablex Publishing. Retrieved from: http://sun.iwu.edu/~cisabell/courses/spanish410/donato.pdf
Nation, P. (1997). Teaching vocabulary. Asian EFL Journal. Retrieved from: http://asian-efl-journal.com/sept_05_pn.pdf
Nation, P. (2000). Learning vocabulary in lexical sets: Dangers and guidelines. TESOL Journal, 9(2), 6-10. Retrieved from: http://www.eric.ed.gov/ERICWebPortal/search/detailmini.jsp?_nfpb=true&_&ERICExtSearch_SearchValue_0=EJ611408&ERICExtSearch_SearchType_0=no&accno=EJ611408
Read, C. (1998, April). The challenge of teaching children. English Teaching Professional, 7, 8-10. Retrieved from: http://www.ilkogretimkalbi.com/dokuman/ingilizce/English_Teaching_Professional-/challenge.pdf
Sharrio, C. (2011). How Students Learn Words. Florida Department of Education Website. http://faculty.scf.edu/sharric/lesson7/lesson7topic2.htm
Shin, J. (2011). Best practices for teaching English to young learners . Presentation given at the Methodology of the ELT Tour (Venezuela). Retrieved from: http://www.slideshare.net/VenTESOL/teaching-english-to-young-learners-by-joan-shin
References continued These references are not Open Access.
Donato, R. (1994). Collective scaffolding in second language learning. In J. P. Lantolf & G. Appel (Eds.), Vygotskian approaches to second language research (pp. 33-56). Norwood, NJ: Ablex.
Shin, J. & Crandall, J. (2013). Teaching young learners from theory to practice. Boston, MA: Heine Cengage.
Keep in touch!
Amber Warren: [email protected]
Twitter: @AmberESL
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/awarren1/
