EFL to Small Children

Presented by John Mundahl

United States Peace Corps Volunteer

Recent Immigration to the United States

1. 30 million immigrants have come to the United States in the last 30
years, thats one million a year.
2. 1.2 million Romanians. First settled in Cleveland, Ohio in 1914.
(20,000) Founded St. Marys the first Romanian orthodox church, 4
Romanian newspapers. Very successful. returned to Romania.
3. We love Romanians!

Number of ELL Students in the

United States
1. We have 7,000,000 ELL students in our schools now. The number has
tripled in the last decade.
2. One child in four speaks a language other than English at home in the
United States now.

Why is This Important?

1. It forces us to keep exploring new methodologies.
2. We are always trying to find better ways to teach English
to our ELL students.

EFL to Young Children

1. Methodology is tied to the research on child development.
2. Piaget, Maria Montessori, Reggio Emilia,

How Do Small Children Learn?

Piaget: Children learn through play, by contacting and
interacting with their environment.

How Do Small Children Learn?

Maria Montessori:
a. She used small tables and chairs, low shelves, free choice of learning
material, uninterrupted work, freedom of movement---independence.
b. She allowed children to interact with their environment, yet she structured
the activities in such a way that her learning goals were achieved.
c. She de-centered the role of the teacher.

How Do Small Children Learn?

Reggio Emilia approach:
a.
b.
c.
c.

Similar to Montessori methods. Fosters independence.

Project-based.
Children are given choices in their own education.
Parental involvement is very important.

Popular Methodology
1. Games, play, stories, movement and song form the
core of EFL methodology for young children, not rote
learning.

Games
1. BINGO with prizes.
2. See handout with game ideas.
Websites:
a. ESL-Kids.com---a huge website with activities arranged by age, pre-school-8th grade.
One of the most comprehensive and best-maintained websites.
b. ESL Kids Lab---worksheets, games and video lessons.
c. ESL Galaxy---lessons and teaching materials.
d. ESL Handouts---ideas, pictures and worksheets.
e. Your Complete ESL Headquarters---hundreds of free worksheets, flashcards,
BINGO, board games, activities, books, games and pictures.

Play
Websites:
a. Early Childhood Links---contains a section for teachers with free
art recipes, coloring pages, crafts, lesson plans, resources, songs,
theme units and worksheets.
b. jumpstart.com---a website just for teaching 6 year olds.
c. Room 108---a huge primary education site for kids with over 1900
pages of learning material.

Stories
1. Children love Big Books.
a. You can make your own.
b. On YouTube or Google How to make a Big Book.
Websites:
a. Short Stories for Kids---animated cartoons.
b. Story Place---a preschool library and elementary library with new
activities and themes added each month.
c. Picture Books---free online picture books.

Movement
1. Counting with movement.
2. Songs with movement.
Websites:
a. Simply ESL.com---lesson plans and activities for all ages.
b. ESL Flashcards---free flashcards ready to download.
c. squidoo.com---focuses on speaking activities, ideas to encourage students to speak
in English.
d. ESL Galaxy---a large website full of ideas and materials.
e. ESL Teachers Board---a huge website with games, lesson plans, free material and
links to others teachers.

Songs
Websites:
a. The Teachers Guide Song Page---200 songs arranged in alphabetical order.
b. Kids Songsa large collection of free children songs.
c. Kids Music---sing-a-long songs to piano music.
d. supersimplesong.com---childrens music.

Puppets
Google: How to Make Puppets.

Color With a Purpose

1. Color the tree green.
2. Color the dog brown.
3. Color the banana yellow.

Use Multi-Media if Available

1. YouTube---many wonderful lessons.
2. Television shows for children---Sesame Street.
3. DVDs

Popular Methodology
Teach concepts the children already know in their mother tongue.
a. In this way, the child is not learning two things at once, a new
concept and a new language, but is simply learning the English word
for a concept they already understand.
b. (colors, names of animals, classroom vocabulary, body parts and
simple commands, for example).

Popular Methodology
Children need to move around.
a. Songs with movement.
b. Simple commands with movement. (Stand up. Sit down. Touch
your nose.)
d. Greetings with movement. (Pass a ball around. Each person says
a greeting.)

Popular Methodology
Children need a fun reason to speak English.
a. You may want to introduce puppets or animals who only speak
English.
b. You may want to create a corner of your room where only English
is spoken, like a small grocery store, or small town, or a conductor on
a toy train who only speaks English.
c. Watch a TV show where children respond in English.
d. Games in English.

Popular Methodology
Children are excitable.
a. Vary your activities from active to calm.
b. English story time offers a quiet break in the classroom routine for
students to hear English pronunciation and to respond to print.
c. Books with repeating phrases ,or rhyming patterns that the can be
memorized ,are important. (Brown Bear, Brown Bear by Bill Martin).

Popular Methodology
Children have short attention spans.
a. Change activities often and have everything you need for each
activity.
b. Plan ahead. Have 2 or 3 other activities ready to use if the
children get restless.
c. Have stations.

Anticipate the Silent Period

Dont force the English.

How Do Small Children Learn

Another Language?
1. They learn it while they are doing something else.
2. Adults can study the language directly.

Should I Use Romanian?

1. Yesmaybe for directions. The children need to
understand what is happening or what is expected of
them.
2. To help control the class.

The Preparatory Grade EFL Curriculum

There are four competencies:
1. Understanding Simple Spoken Messages.
2. Oral Expression in Day-to-Day Situations.
3. Understanding Simple Written Messages.
4. Writing Simple Messages in Day-to-Day Situations.

Competency #1: Understanding Simple Spoken Messages

A. Students should be able to respond appropriately to simple greetings and to
short, simple questions or instructions that are spoken clearly and slowly.
Examples:
a. Students should understand the meaning of Hello and Goodbye and other simple
greetings.
b. Students should respond correctly to simple commands such as: Come here, Stand up,
Show me the book, Sit down, Go to the window, Touch your nose. The teacher should support
each command with a gesture that helps understanding.
c. Miming. When the teacher says, Youre a catbird, dog, tree..the students should be able
to mimic a cat, bird, dog or tree.

B. Students should be able to recognize numbers 1-10 in messages that are

spoken clearly and slowly.
Examples:
a. Students should be able to pick up a flashcard with the number the teacher
says.
b. Students should be able to indicate with their fingers the number the teacher
says.
c. Students should be able to mark lines on a paper indicating the number the
teacher says.

Competency #1: Understanding Simple Spoken Messages

C. Students should be able to recognize a variety objects in their vicinity.
Examples:
a. When the teacher says book, pencil, crayon, paper, desk, chair and so forth, the
students should be able to point to the object or draw the object.

D. Students should display a curiosity for the English words in movies and songs.
Examples:
1. Students should be given the opportunity to watch a 2 or 3 minute cartoon or
movie in English, or listen to an English song, without the Romanian translation.
2. Students should be allowed to listen to, dance or sing along with simple songs
in English.
3. Students should be able to listen to a simple song and associate it with a
musical toy.
4. Students should be able to listen to simple songs and mime what the words say
(clap your hands, touch your toes, sit down, stand up and so forth).

Competency #2: Oral Expression in Day to Day Situations.

A. Reproduction of simple information, songs or short poems with the teachers
English help.
Examples:
a. Repeating simple greetings (Hello).
b. Repeating numbers 1-10.
c. Repeating simple questions and answering them (What is that? A cat.)
d. Repeating a word or a simple message, either individually or in a group, until the
pronunciation is correct.
e. Repeating riddles and rhymes.

B. Offering basic information about oneself.

Examples:
a. Name, gender, age and other information (answering with one word).
b. Name, gender, age and other information (answering in a small dialogueWhats
your name? My name is Raluca. Are you a student? Yes, Im a student).
c. Name, gender, age and other information in a group setting (by taking turns).
d. Name, gender, age and other information by drawing a picture of themselves.

Competency #2: Oral Expression in Day to Day Situations.

C. Naming and counting objects in the near vicinity.
Examples:
a. What is this? Is this a bottle?
b. Counting objects in the classroom (How many books are there?)

D. Offering short answers and formulating simple questions in familiar situations

with the help of the teacher.
Examples:
a. What are you doing? I am drawing.
b. Participating in simple role play. Staging a simple two-line dialogue modeled by the
teacher. (Hello, how are you? Im fine, how are you?)

E. Taking part in communication games where they reproduce or create short

messages or rhymes.
Examples:
a. What rhymes with cat?
b. Constructing funny messages (The elephant is flying. The boy is eating his hat.)

Competency #3: Understanding Simple Written Messages.

A. Students display curiosity for decoding simple, short written messages in their
immediate vicinity.
Examples:
a. Students participate in individual project work, or group project work, that displays
writing.
b. Students draw an object, such as a house, and attempt to label the parts, or label the
parts with the help of the teacher using sticky pads.
c. Students begin to look at new written messages in the classroom (The teacher should
label everything in the classroom) Students should not be afraid to ask for the meaning
of a new written word.

Competency #3: Understanding Simple Written Messages.

B. Students should begin to recognize the importance of words in picture books.
Examples:
a. Students should be able to follow a story line in a picture book for 2 pages and then
be able to answer a yes/no question about the story: Is this story about a little girl in
the woods? Is the dog in the tree now?
b. Students should be able to follow a comic book, or story, and answer simple
questions. Is this about flowers or animals? Is this about dogs or cats?

C. Recognition of the significance of labels in the classroom or around the

school.
Examples:
a. Students can guess at the meaning of a new word by looking at the picture or object
that it labels.
b. The teacher labels a new word and the students have to guess what it means.

Competency #4: Writing Simple Messages in Day to Day

Situations.
A. Participating in group projects where students write short written messages
with the teachers help.
Examples:
a. Students make a poster about family, or cultural holidays, and stick words or
messages on the poster.
b. Students make a self-portrait where they add their name and other things about
themselves.
c. Students draw their pet and label parts with a stickers given by teacher.
d. Students bring in their favorite toy and select labels offered by the teacher.

Common European Framework

1. The Prep Grade curriculum is tied to the Common
European Framework.
2. See handout

How Should I Teach This?

Option 1: You can teach everything in order 1-4.
Option 2: You can mix things up. Pick and choose.
Either way:
a. Make a list of everything youre supposed to teach.
b. Label objects in your room.

A Summary of What to Teach

1. Greetings
2. Simple commands
3. Classroom vocabulary
4. Miming animals
5. Counting 1-10
6. Singing English songs
7. Watching English DVDs, TV, YouTube
8. Basic information about yourself
9. Rhymes and riddles
10. Answering simple questions
11. Project work
12. Art work
13. Labeling things in English with help
14. Listening to and responding to stories

How Should I Arrange My Room?

1. Many primary teachers in the U.S
have stations.
2. The rooms are brightly decorated.

Your Speaking Voice

1. Speak slowly and clearly.
2. Give students a chance to speak: Individually, as a class,
boys against girls, in small groups, responding to TV,
responding to books, puppets and music.
3. Be loving. Extend speech the way a mother does.
4. Speaking louder does not increase comprehension.
It only scares the children.

Sample Lesson #1
1. (10 minutes) Practice greetings in English. Sing a simple song.
2. (10 minutes) Flash cards next. Review vocabulary and introduce
new vocabulary.
3. (10 minutes) Color with a purpose activity with directions in
English.
4. (20 minutes) BINGO with prizes.
5. End with a Big Book story.

Sample Lesson #2
9:00-9:25---BINGO
9:25-9:45---Song with movement
9:45-9:55---Big Book story

Sample Lesson #3
1. Warm Up---(2 minutes) Smile. Say hello. Have children do simple
actionsclap hands, wash face, brush teeth, jump and down. Do the actions
with them.
2. Hello Song---(3 minutes) Sing the Hello Song and make a circle.
3. Circle Time---(7 minutes) Pass a ball around. Each student says Hello
as they pass the ball around. This can be expanded to, How are you? or
Whats your name?
4. Song---(5 minutes) Whats Your Name song or a favorite song of the
children.
5. Numbers---(5 minutes ) Practice numbers 1-10 in a variety of ways.
6. Story Time---(10 minutes) Read a Big Book.
7. New Vocabulary---(10 minutes ) Introduce animals or colors or more
classroom vocabulary.
8. Action Time---(15 minutes ) A movement activity of some kind.
9. Goodbye Song---3 minutes.

Other Useful Tips

1. Allow yourself to act silly. You may want to dress up like the
characters in the book youre reading, make silly voices and faces,
and sing and dance with your children.
2. Dress for a mess. At the end of class you may have paint, colors
or chalk on your clothes. Wear an apron.

Other Useful Tips

3. Have lively music that is easy to understand. Sing along with
your children.
4. Puppets are popular, especially when the children get to know the
puppets and you incorporate them in every lesson.

Other Useful Tips

5. Make Story Time fun.

6. Use colorful flashcards.

Other Useful Tips

7. Have a happy room full of toys, pictures, music and
things that small children will enjoy.

Other Useful Tips

8. Some children may be clumsy with pencils, scissors,
coloring, copying as they are still developing fine motor
skills.

Other Useful Tips

9. Young children may need time to develop turn-taking
and sharing skills. Many are still ego-centric.

Other Useful Tips

10. Take Care of YourselfStay healthy.

Other Useful Tips

11. Have a support group.

Other Useful Tips

12. Try to stay rested.

Other Useful Tips

13. The whole key is to enjoy this age.
Not everyone can teach this age.

Is it All Fun and Games at This Age?

1. No. We teach reading to 6 year olds in the United States.
2. Move through the curriculum, but in a fun way.

Useful Websites
1. Teach Children ESL.com---free games, songs, lesson ideas and worksheets
2. The Teachers Guide Song Page---200 songs arranged in alphabetical order.
3. ESL-Kids.com---a huge website with activities arranged by age, pre-school-8 th
grade. One of the most comprehensive and best-maintained websites.
4. ESL Kids Lab---worksheets, games and video lessons.
5. ESL Galaxy---lessons and teaching materials.
6. ESL Handouts---ideas, pictures and worksheets.
7. Your Complete ESL Headquarters---hundreds of free worksheets, flashcards,
BINGO, board games, activities, books, games and pictures.
8. Early Childhood Links---contains a section for teachers with free art recipes,
coloring pages, crafts, lesson plans, resources, songs, theme units and worksheets.
9. English For Children---a huge site with links to a vast amount of EFL material.
10. Short Stories for Kids---animated cartoons.
11. Story Place---a preschool library and elementary library with new activities and
themes added each month.
12. Picture Books---free online picture books.

Useful Websites
13. Online English Learning For Children---a selection of free learning videos.
14. Kids Online English---a YouTube site from Pumpin.com for kids to learn English
online.
15. Names of Fruits---a YouTube site for learning fruit (color and pronunciation).
16. Numbers---a YouTube site for learning to count from 1-10.
17. Original EFL Learning---YouTube videos for children giving them non-classroom
exposure to English.
18. English for Children---one hundred easy, short stories for children just beginning
to learn English.
19. jumpstart.com---a website just for teaching 6 year olds.
20. Discovery Education---Discovery Channels website with learning activities K-12.
21. EFL Playhouse---resources for young learners.
22. Free Stuff for Teachers---a large collection of material given freely to teachers.
23. Kids Songsa large collection of free children songs.
24. Kids Music---sing-a-long songs to piano music.

Useful Websites
25. Room 108---a huge primary education site for kids with over 1900 pages of
learning material.
26. mes-games.com---a large selection of games for children.
27. mes-english.com---lots of free material for teachers.
28. supersimplesong.com---childrens music.
29. Simply ESL.com---lesson plans and activities for all ages.
30. ESL Flashcards---free flashcards ready to download.
31. squidoo.com---focuses on speaking activities, ideas to encourage students to speak
in English.
32. ESL Galaxy---a large website full of ideas and materials.
33. ESL Teachers Board---a huge website with games, lesson plans, free material and
links to others teachers.
34. The EFL Playhouse---a large site specifically for young EFL learners with
printable games, puzzles, worksheets, songs and the Dolch site words.

The Importance of Parent Involvement

1. When parents are engaged, interested and supportive in their child's
learning, the child is more likely to succeed.
2. Parental involvement is more important to student success than family
income or education.

The Importance of Parent Involvement

1. We send a letter to the parents welcoming them into the school and the
classroom.
2. We provide a list of everything the child needs to start school.
3. We stress the importance of school attendance and arriving on time.

The Importance of Parent Involvement

4. We encourage parents to read to their children at home and talk to
their children about school.
5. We encourage parents to contact school with any questions or
concerns.
6. Some teachers compile a wish list of things teacher might need in
classroom.

The Importance of Parent Involvement

7. Train the office staff to be friendly with parents.
8. Sponsor family events: a Family Day, a Grandparents Day, a Lunch
with Your Child Day.

Ending Thoughts
1. Two billion people speak English now.
2. 80% of the worlds electronically stored information is in English.
3. Because of the Internet, travel, study abroad, international business,
tourism---we are global citizens.

Ending Thoughts
Its important that Romanian students continue to
study English and have a chance to speak it.

Ending Thoughts

Ending Thoughts

Ending Thoughts

Ending Thoughts

Questions or Comments?
[email protected]