Teaching English to young children has numerous significant and unique challenges which are absent in teaching English to older children and adults. Toddlers do not have the capability to sit down and give a teacher his/her full attention. This makes learning new vocabulary and grammar rules extremely difficult. It takes a dedicated and enthusiastic teacher to take on the dual task of educating and providing a healthy safe environment for young children. There are several methods teachers can adapt which may make teaching young children more fun, exciting and rewarding. Incorporating the following methods into every lesson plan will maximize learning and enjoyment potential for all.

One of the most imperative ways kindergarten teachers can achieve the maximum growth from each lesson is by becoming involved in and guiding children's play. By producing an environment in which the children are free to play with each other and with carefully selected materials, teachers facilitate children's development and learning. It’s important for the teacher to take advantage of the activities which maximize children’s focus on sounds, rhythms, and phonics. Playing music games and singing songs, rhymes and riddles can help the children learn the new sounds and phonics of English. Classic games such as “Simon says” can be used in lesson plans by utilizing different themes such as colors or body parts. Games should be varied, brief, and most importantly fun. By using games and keeping the classroom an educational playroom the teacher can better manage the difficult task of educating young toddlers.

Research has shown that the earlier children are exposed to a second language the easier they learn and retain the language. Literacy skills begin in kindergarten and it’s important to expose children not only to the sounds of a language but also to the grammatical structures and vocabulary of a language. This means we must not only speak English to young learners but we must read to them as well. Teaching children by sound and sight means introducing letters with fun shapes, sizes and textures. It’s important to remember that literacy is developed through seeing the letter and hearing the sound. When reading to the children, teachers should remember to give the students a visual text so they can follow along.

Most EFL teacher use visual aides in their lessons, however, kindergarten EFL teachers rely on them heavily. Young children are highly visual and interactive learners. Using visual aides in all lessons and having countless pictures, toys and materials around the classroom will instigate conversation. The teacher can than expand on the child’s words by making larger more complex sentences. For the greatest degree of effectiveness the teacher should make the visuals fun, bright, colorful and easy to see and understand. One of the most effective ways to use visuals is to hold up the visual, say and repeat the name and than have the students say the name. To ensure clarity it is often helpful to use several different visuals of the same item.

Teaching young children can be an exhausting and difficult task. By integrating the fundamental yet natural methods that children use to learn into every lesson can make each lesson enjoyable and beneficial for the child and the teacher. It’s important that young children have fun while learning and these methods can make teaching more fun, exciting and rewarding for the dedicated and enthusiastic teacher.

Michelle Shelli Swafford