Direct Metod for Teaching Kindergarten English Language Learners

 A lot has been said about the direct teaching method or the natural learning method as many name it for teaching early childhood English Language Learners.

We all do Direct teaching with the little ones, we don't teach them grammar such as saying this the noun, the plurals and so on. We just model sentences and the students repeat and then substitute with new words and structures and language just evolves.

Provide dynamic interaction with activities that you can include in your lesson plan.

A kindergarten class is always full of flashcards, puppets and many props. Games and activities are done without translation, it is more with imitation, miming and students just get it so fast.

Children learned their native language at home in a natural way, the same method works for them.

Of course, many techniques and practices should take place to execute the direct method.In future posts I will add some ideas but my other blog there are many ideas on how to use flashcards, small cards, cutouts, worksheets and games for speaking and listening opportunities.

Take a look: www.eflpreschoolteachers.blogspot.com

                                                 

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Is translation necessary for teaching Kindergarten English Language Learners?

A common question that everybody has a different vision on. Is translation necessary to teach children? Books, articles and more have very different views on this. Basically it is more based on your students, your situation and where you teach.

As an English as a Foreign Language Teacher, meaning that I have taught in a country where the language is not spoken, in Venezuela, my experience is different from many teachers.

Starting teaching I would speak in English all the time, I only spoke in Spanish when I saw that whatever the message was not delivered.

I had plenty of visuals: flashcards, realia, cutouts and more. I tried to make myself understood first in English and if mission imposible I would use Spanish. The focus is on effective communication.

Modeling the classsroom commands was a must from the beginning of the school year, I would use flashcards, TPR and any other practice that could come to my mind. When I started creating resources, the first one that I did was the commands set.Wish I had such pretty cards back then, but I made my set out of magazine pictures, yes! I know, no Internet back then. You can get the resource here.   https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Classroom-Commands-Flashcards-1816475

Mime whatever and whenever to get the message across your students. I would even mime their answers when they weren't enthusiastic.

Pairing students is great because there is always a students that gets you at the first sentence and becomes your translator and doesn't interrupt the class.

Scaffold! Read about it and practice it with your students. "Support every student by breaking learning up into chunks and providing a concrete structure for each."

 https://www.edutopia.org/blog/scaffolding-lessons-six-strategies-rebecca-alber

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