Why should children learn foreign language? How can children learn foreign language?

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1 Why shuld children learn freign language? Children wh learn a language befre the nset f adlescence are much mre likely t have native-like prnunciatin. The mre years a child can devte t learning a language, the mre cmpetent he r she will becme. Regardless, intrducing children t alternative ways f expressing themselves and t different cultures generally bradens their utlk and gives them the pprtunity t cmmunicate with many mre peple. (Marcs) Hw can children learn freign language? The three majr types f prgrams available in elementary schls are language immersin prgrams, freign language in elementary schls (FLES) prgrams, and freign language explratry (FLEX) prgrams. Immersin prgrams allw children t spend part r all f the schl day learning in a secnd language. In full (ttal) immersin prgrams, which are available in a limited number f schls, children learn all f their subjects (math, scial studies, science, etc.) in the secnd language. Partial immersin prgrams perate n the same principle, but nly a prtin f the curriculum is presented in the secnd language. Under this type f prgram, a child may learn scial studies and science in Spanish r French in the mrning and learn mathematics and language arts in English in the afternn. In bth cases, the secnd language is the medium fr cntent instructin rather than the subject f instructin. Children enrlled in immersin prgrams wrk tward full prficiency in the secnd language and usually reach a higher level f cmpetence than thse participating in ther language prgrams. FLES prgrams are mre cmmn than immersin prgrams. A secnd language is presented as a distinct subject, much as science r scial studies. Typically, the curse is taught three t five times per week. Depending n the frequency f the classes and the pprtunity fr practice, children in these sequential prgrams may attain substantial prficiency in the language studied. FLEX prgrams intrduce students t ther cultures and t language as a general cncept. Time is spent explring ne r mre languages r presenting infrmatin abut language itself. Althugh this infrmatin may be intrduced, the emphasis is nt n attaining prficiency. While sme prficiency may be attained with a nce- r twice-per-week prgram emphasizing the use f a specific language, parents shuld nt expect children t attain fluency in such prgrams. These prgrams, hwever, can prvide a basis fr later learning. (Marcs) 1

2 Games Synnym fr wrd games: amusement, entertainment, play Games are usually used as shrt warm-up activities r when there is sme time left at the end a lesin. Games have been shwn t have advantages and effectiveness in learning vcabulary in varius ways. First, games bring in relaxatin and fun fr students, this helps them learn and keep new wrds mre easily. Secnd, games usually invlve friendly cmpetitin and they keep learners interested. Third, vcabulary games bring real wrld cntext int the classrm and imprve student s use f English in a flexible, cmmunicative way. T achieve the mst frm vcabulary games, it is essential that suitable games are chsen. Whenever a game is t be perfrmed the number f students, prficiency level, cultural cntext, timing, learning tpic and the classrm settings are factrs that shuld be taken int accunt. (annymus) I have fcused n games played in a grup f children that they play in schl and nt games that we can play n a cmputer. Games are highly mtivating because they are amusing and interesting, They can give practice in all language skills and be used t practice many types f cmmunicatin, Games are welcme break frm usual rutine f the language class, They are mtivating and challenging, Learning a language requires a great deal f effrt. Games help students t make and sustain the effrt f learning, Games prvide language practice in the varius skills-speaking, writing, listening and reading, Yu have t mtivate children t take part in activities even if they d nt feel like it, Smetimes they are nt apprpriate fr the age f children and they think they are t easy fr them r n the ther hand t hard, 2

3 Using DVDs CDs I have divided DVDs and CDs in ne grup and mvies and cartns in anther grup. Because we can have mvies and cartns n DVDs and CDs but I have fcused n DVDs and CDs that help yu learn hw t talk, hw t prnunce wrds and have games t play s we expand ur vcabulary (fr example English DVD fr beginners, learning t speak English, hear-say English, the kids way t learn English, Talk t me, etc.) In grup DVDs and CDs I have included cmputer games, that can imprve and help us learn ur knwledge f freign language. Can buy this prduct and have it at hme and watch it and practice it ver and ver again, It is nt s expensive, It is interesting t children, They learn hw t use a cmputer fr learning purpse, There are many different DVDs and CDs that are available fr all ages and capabilities when it is used in class it can nly use it ne persn, the ne it is sitting in frnt f the cmputer, the ther children are passive, They can get addicted t the cmputer, Usually DVDs and CDs d nt crrect children when they make a mistake in spelling r prnunciatin, If they memrize the games n DVD r CD, they d nt even think what they are ding, fr example, which wrds are cnnecting in pair, It can get bred in time because it is nt a challenge fr them anymre. 3

4 Internet Synnyms fr wrd internet: cyberspace Internet is very interesting and useful thing and if yu d nt use it nly fr senseless things, yu can learn with it. Fr example in YuTube yu can find a lt f interesting things that can help yu learn freign language fast and in interesting way (fr example: alphabet, number, names f animals, etc.) On the internet yu can find interesting websites where yu can play different games and yu can use internet in schl t shw children different animatins, pictures, vides, etc. Internet refreshes almst every day and yu can find new ways t learn freign language, can find new vides al websites that are meant fr children, It is interesting fr children, it keeps them entertained Almst all things are available fr free, maybe yu just need t register, Internet cntains a lt f inapprpriate websites fr children, s children must be supervised while being n it, Internet des nt cntain nly verified infrmatin, Child can becme addicted and lses cntact with the real wrld, start t neglect everything (schl, friends, hbbies, etc.) 4

5 Listening t the sngs, pems and stries Synnyms fr wrd sng: pem, meldy, jingle, tune, track Synnyms fr wrd stry: anecdte, article, nvel, reprt, tale Listening is ne f my favrite ways f learning a new language, because yu can hear the right prnunciatin. Children like music because it relaxes them and if a teacher r a parent translates it fr them they sn cnnect the freign wrds with wrds they talk every day. The same is with pems and stries they listen. it keeps children s attentin, because they are interested in sngs and stries, they like t hear it again and again, in the class if yu read it t the children and if yu repeat it several times and translate it, they remember hw the wrds are said and what they mean and then they can repeat it, each pupil can tell ne piece f the stry r pem r sings a part f a sng, Sme children have the ability t memrize text very quickly and d nt even try t understand what it is said, Smetimes children get bred r have n mtivatin, 5

6 Reading bks and picture bks Synnyms fr wrd bks: nte, recrd, daybk If a child can read, this way is very interesting t learn a freign language. They start with picture bks, where they can usually cnnect the cntent with the picture and later n, when they learn a language very well, they can read bks, it expands their vcabulary. It expands their vcabulary, It is nt stressful, it relaxes them, They can read things that are interesting t the children, Yu can brrw bks frm the library, s it is nt expensive, Many children d nt like reading, Parent r a teacher shuld always be there fr them if they d nt understand smething, When yu read, yu can understand everything, but yu cannt prnunce it right, 6

7 Watching freign mvies and cartns Synnyms fr wrd mvie: film, picture shw, vide, mtin picture Synnyms fr wrd cartn: animated cartn The easiest way t learn different language in my pinin is t watch cartns and mvies, because when yu are able t read yu can hear a freign language and n the bttm yu can read translatins. Sn yu cnnect the freign wrds with wrds yu use every day. Sn yu are able t be in anther rm and d smething and just listen t the mvie and knw what it is ging abut. Children lve cartns and mvies, because it is interesting t them, It keeps their attentin fr a lng time, but nly if the cntent is interesting t them, It inspires their imaginatin. Smetimes the translatins are nt crrect and children can learn wrng meanings fr the wrd, Children d nt spend enugh time utside, Can learn inapprpriate wrds. 7

8 Language learning camp Children have pprtunity t visit language learning camp in Slvenia r they can g abrad, in different cuntries it all depends which language they want t learn. This pprtunity is fr children very useful because they meet new friends and learn language r imprve the knwledge they had befre. If they g abrad they meet native speakers and children frm that cuntry and they can becme pen friends. That kind f learning is very interesting t children because they meet new peple, can stay in tuch with friends they have met and maybe smeday use the cnnectin and g t study in that cuntry r just visit them during summer vacatin. Only disadvantage fr me is that, this is a very expensive way t learn a freign language. 8