Children and ELT: Introduction

y8E中国英语学习网

It is indisputable that there has been a major expansion in the number of children learning English as a second or foreign language. It is also true that children are starting to learn English at younger and younger ages. This poses a number of challenges (and opportunities) for ELT teachers, and all ELT teachers should now be prepared to teach ELT to children. As the skills and knowledge required for teaching children are vastly different to those required for teaching adults, it is essential that ELT teachers should be aware of the following;

y8E中国英语学习网

1)      the basic process of cognitive development

y8E中国英语学习网

2)      children’s interests and motivations

y8E中国英语学习网

3)      the specific skills needed to teach a foreign language to children (Cameron, 2003).

y8E中国英语学习网

 y8E中国英语学习网

This essay will give a general introduction to these areas; as such, it will be divided into three broad areas;

y8E中国英语学习网

1)      cognitive development, the stages of childhood development, and the theories of Jean Piaget; the relevance of these theories to children’s ELT teachers

y8E中国英语学习网

2)      creating an effective, child-friendly, ELT classroom, and managing classes effectively

y8E中国英语学习网

3)      practical advice on how to teach a foreign language to children, with particular attention given to teaching games, songs, and storybooks

y8E中国英语学习网