Teaching English to

Young Learners

The Joy and the Challenges

 Basic Assumption
It is popularly believed that children are
better language learners than adults

CRITICAL PERIOD HYPOTHESIS

The LAD is on the pinnacle period (between
2 to 10) where it is widely open to
acquisition & learning
Young Learners based on ages
Are between 6 12 years old
1. Younger group (6 8 years old)
2. Older group (9 12 years old)

Scott & Ytreberg (1990) distinguish young

learners into : Level One (5-7 years old)
and Level Two (beginners) (8 10 years
old).
Young Learners based on classes
Younger Group (6 8 years old) are the
1st, 2nd, & 3rd graders, and
Older Group (9 12 years old) are the 4th,
5th, and 6th graders.
 Characteristics
1. Egocentric (5 7 years old)
2. Reciprocity (8 10 years old)
3. Concrete vs abstract concepts
1. Level one : hardly differentiate the two
concepts
2. Level two : are developing cognitive
concepts to differentiate the two.
 Characteristics (cont)
4. Active and Imaginative.
Learners enjoy learning through games,
stories, songs (Recreational time out
activities).
Ur (1996) advises three motivating
sources for young learners : PICTURES,
FAIRY TALES, GAMES.
 Characteristics (cont)
5. Short Memory Span (easily get bored).
Learning needs to be varied and changed
every 10 15 minutes.
(learners of upper classes may
concentrate longer than the lower classes)
6. Joyful & Colorful life.
Colorful flash cards and puppets may be
used. Songs can also be used.
 Characteristics (cont)
7. Young learners love stories as they love games.
stories may train the learners to concentrate
more on the context / meaning rather than on
words.
8. Younger groups are more self-centered. They
like to do the tasks by themselves, yet
sometimes with their close friends.
Upper groups are more social. We can use in-
pairs or in-groups tasks. Peer learning and
correction are in the good start.
 Characteristics (cont)
9. Upper groups are ready for further step of
learning (providing that their learning history are
sufficient). They are developing the ability to
understand a context of a discourse without
word by word translation.
10. Learning By Doing.
Input Exposure Opportunity
(The best way of studying a language is by
functioning it in communication).
 Therefore,
The learning should be fun and natural :
avoiding stresses and anxiety. This can be
done by using commands, physical
movements and pictures
The language is presented through
sounds not written symbols, therefore
listening come first before speaking
The learning should facilitate the childrens
senses, such as touching, seeing,
listening, smelling, tasting
Meaning should be made clear by
presenting concrete objects or by
presenting experiences
The teaching should start from what the
students already know in order to activate
association processes. Teachers add one
new segment