I would like to reflect on two English lessons, in the Polish and Chinese nursery. Firstly, I would like to formulate the aims and objectives of each lesson.
Aims:
To learn new vocabulary: banana, apple, pear.
To practice colours: yellow, red, green.
To practice counting skills.
Objectives:
Students will be able to name three fruits.
Students will be able to name three colours.
Students will be able to count to 6.
China
Aims:
To practice colours: red, yellow, green, blue.
To practice vocabulary: apple, orange, banana, pear.
To learn a new structure: It is a/an apple/orange/banana/pear.
To learn prepositions: on, in.
Objectives:
Students will be able to name four colours.
Students will be able to name four fruits.
Students will be able to use a new structure.
Students will be able to distinguish between two prepositions.
Which teacher managed to achieve the aims/objectives better? Why?
I think that the Chinese teacher managed to achieve the objectives better because there is a lot of repetition used in changing circumstances. Children had a lot of expose to singe words before moving to the next ones. Besides, there were the reoccurrence of the words in later stages and the opportunity for practice. Therefore, children were able to appropriately name colours, fruits and prepositions.
Is L1 necessary in teaching (very) young learner? Why?
I do not think that it is necessary to use L1 while teaching a language. In my opinion, it is definitely not necessary while teaching very young learns, because they are still acquiring and expanding their first language. There is no effort for them to follow a teacher speaking L2 and they can easily learn it. I believe that immersing students in the targeted language is the best what language teachers can offer to their students.
Which lesson do I like more? Why?
I really like the energy of the Chinese teacher who is positive and energetic. I like his lesson more because it is very dynamic and funny. The teacher is keeping children focused by jumping between different activities. He is also showing shapes of the fruits so children's senses are involved. Moreover, the teacher is encouraging children to participate by raising his own hand and making everything very exciting so that children cannot wait to see it. On the other hand, I think that the Polish teacher was using too much L1. In my opinion, the lesson could be conducted without the use of L1.
Available at:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9zApy3VdXRw&feature=youtu.be
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DnWuS8ibce8&feature=emb_title
What do you think about using L1 while teaching very young learners?
Angelika
Hello Angelika. I strongly agree with you that using L1 is not necessary while teaching a foreign language for young learners . I like your argument that they are still developing in their mother language.
ReplyDeleteI also like the lesson of Chinese teacher much more. He was so energetic and I think it is important when teaching young learners because children are generally so energetic too.