Learning English is different from studying other school subjects. The goal is not to acquire new knowledge but to learn to communicate in English, so speaking skills rather than knowledge of grammatical structures of the language are the priority.
English is a tool to convey thoughts and intentions; this is how you should approach teaching school-age children. Unlike with preschool children, the most important thing for them is not to play but to study – a more serious attitude to the subject. This approach does not mean they do not play games at all in a lesson.
English classes for primary school students should include games, but, in general, the programme should aim to give children a minimum of knowledge that will help them communicate in a foreign language.
An English lesson for school children should not look like a typical lesson with children sitting at their desks, writing and reading. Classes organized in this way are boring and will not spark interest and desire to learn the language.
Live English is not about word lists or grammar rules. It is a different world, with its own culture, traditions and entertainment. To get acquainted with them, you need to master a special key, which your teacher has. Every lesson, your teacher will share their secrets through conversation and play – a form of communication that is close to all children.
English lessons in primary school are structured the other way around. The main focus for school teachers is to teach students to read and then to speak.
School English begins with learning the alphabet but not with practising live communication. Therefore, children who start learning English at school think that it is difficult and dull.
When leaving primary school, many students who started learning English in the 2nd grade, and had lessons two times a week, cannot read or speak and do not have any grammar knowledge, which is important for further developing speaking skills.
Many students cannot do their homework alone, and speaking with foreigners on vacation is out of the question.
First, it is a live conversation between a teacher and a student through a game assisted by auditory, visual and motor visualisation; this enables children to remember important phrases better and improve their vocabulary.
Regular repetition of such games with cartoons, rhymes and songs immerses a child in the language environment to understand the situations appropriate for this vocabulary.
Alphabet is introduced when a student has already mastered elementary skills. Everything that a child has learned will help them learn the alphabet and develop reading skills in the future. When there is a correct auditory image of a word in mind, the visual image will evoke strong sound-letter associations. Also, reading will turn into a fascinating activity and not cause any problems.
The next stage is visualization and understanding of everything learned during oral communication through games and creative tasks that will help when further learning the English language.
Novakid Online English School provides video lessons for beginners and more advanced users. Our teachers are interested in developing conversational skills. They know how to teach students to communicate, establish speech contact with each student and get on the right side of the shyest children.
Novakid has no teachers speaking the children’s native language, so students will have to use only English. The atmosphere that the teacher creates in the classroom makes it possible to fully unlock the students' abilities. Do you still doubt it? Sign up for a free test lesson!
