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1. Teaching methodology A ‘standard communicative approach’ is used, where all the teaching is in English. However, as they are only 3-5 years old, a local teacher may be needed to assist the English teacher to manage kids who could be emotional, e.g. crying or keeping quiet. Lessons for kindergarten kids are student-centered, with speaking being a major aim. The key aspects particular to EFL teaching to kindergarten kids (and other young learners below 9 years old) are as follows: - More visual than verbal instructions, e.g. using flashcards to learn new vocabulary, demonstrating before a learning activity, and providing sample answer before a worksheet exercise. The "Do you understand?"question is redundant, as they are not able to truthfully tell you. - Speak slowly, but add enthusiasm to your lessons! Kindergarten kids are like little sponges. They are very literal, and absorb what you tell or show them; and they can tell when you're being genuine. Don't forget to smile! - Verbal repetition and drilling following the teacher’s lead is needed to learn new vocabulary and pronunciation. - Classroom management is a concern with kindergarten kids who may be restless, moody, disobedient or even disruptive. Useful tools to manage such young students include clapping hands to get their attention, calling their names, moving them around or removing them to a corner. A local teacher could assist in managing such kids. - Due to short attention span, lessons are not only short (less than 50 minutes), but also need to build in physical activities, such as stretching exercise, song and dance. They also enjoy story-telling, craft and games. 2. Learning environment 2.1 Circle time Circle time is a time for both fun and conversation. Here are some ideas for a circle time routine: - Get students to sit in a circle. Introduce yourself: “Good morning, my name is _____.” - Ask the students: "How are you?" Go over emotions: "I am happy, I am good, I am hungry, I am sleepy, I am sad, etc." Theatrics are encouraged! - Sing "Bee Bee Bumble Bee" to encourage the students to say their names. "Bee, Bee, Bumble Bee, can you say your name for me?" Encourage the students to say in a full sentence: "My name is ________." - Ask "How old are you?" Encourage students to answer in full sentence and show the appropriate number of fingers. - Stretch with the kids and have them count along with you (e.g. jumping jacks, stretch your toes, touch the sky). - Follow with song and dance. Hits with the students include: Baby Shark, Wheels on the Bus, Head Shoulders Knees and Toes, Tooty Ta. - Have the students sit back down into a circle. Ask “Who knows what day is today?”, and practice singing Days of the Week. Ask “What is the weather?” Check if anybody knows the month, and practice singing Months of the Year. - Encourage students to put up their hands if they know the answer, and reply in full sentence. 2.2 Three lines Before starting the day’s lesson (e.g. matching numbers with words), get students to form "three lines" and sit in front of the white board. - Use flashcards (each with a number and word, e.g. 0 zero) to practice reading and recognizing 0-10 and their words (zero-ten). - Next, show flashcards (each with just a number word, e.g. zero) and drill them on each word by repeating 3 times, and follow by picking 3 individual students to repeat. - Write the numbers 0-10 on the whiteboard. - Glue the back of each number word card (zero- ten), scramble their order and line them up on the ledge of the whiteboard, with their backs facing the students. - Demonstrate how the game is played. - Ask each student to choose a card and say the word. If correct, match it with the number on the board; if incorrect, ask the class for the right word, then match with the number. - Follow up with worksheet exercise. Show the worksheet to the class, and explain how to complete it with an example on matching a word (zero-ten) with its corresponding number (0-10). Distribute the worksheets. 2.3 Group tables Students return to their group tables to complete the worksheet exercise. Review the answers, and get them to correct if necessary.
