Week 3: Working With Young Language Learners

Heloo hello! Its already week 3, woa time really flies! So this week I had learnt about working with young language learners. What is working with young learners about? Well for teachers, we must be clear about this term. Working with young learners is not just about teaching them, but to facilitate them, encourage them ,motivate them so that they can become a balance, harmony and knowledgeable person.

Behold! The magical tree of alphabets!

In order to improve our understanding on this term, Mdm Foziah had given us 6 principles to read on. Then she asked us to choose one topic and then do a presentation on it. So the topic for my group and I was "Children's Ability to Grasp Meaning". This theory was about children's ability to understand adults even tough they might not understand every word in the sentences. This is because children were not born empty, but come with the skills to understand adult's utterances.

Hey I got brain, ok?

But how exactly can children understand us? This knowledge is very important for teachers, because we need this skills in order to teach effectively, especially when teaching second language (English). So children can understand our utterances through our intonation, gesture, facial expressions, actions, and circumstances. For example when the teachers use their finger to point down and say "Sit down", the pupils will understand the order, even tough they might not know the word "Sit" or "Down". Therefore, every teacher must be a good actor/actress! When we are teaching, we must make full use of our facial expression, gestures and intonation in order to help our pupils to grasp meaning.

Nightmare at petaling street

But thats not about it, teacher can use teaching aids as well in order to enhance the meaning. Teaching aids such as pictures card, word strips, and puppets can improve the pupils understanding, as they can easily link the meaning of the words with the teaching aids. For example teacher use the picture "Elephant" to teacher about "Elephant".

A for ant! not apple!

In summary, I had learnt many things today! Teachers can be anyone, an actor, singer, chancellor, and many more! I am glad i am future teacher! Cant wait for next lesson! Till then, sayonara!