LANGUAGE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT FOR YOUNG CHILDREN

• Young children need to feel secure and know that there is some obvious reason for using English.
• Activities need to be linked to some interesting everyday activities about which they already know, eg sharing an English picture book, saying a rhyme in English, having an ‘English’ snack.
• Activities are accompanied by adult language giving a running commentary about what is going on and dialogues using adjusted parentese language.
• English sessions are fun and interesting, concentrating on concepts children have already understood in their home language. In this way children are not learning two things, a new concept as well as new language, but merely learning the English to talk about something they already know.
• Activities are backed up by specific objects, where possible, as this helps understanding and increases general interest.