This article tackles some problems that teachers who teach young learners may face and suggest some solutions to these challenges.
Challenge #1: Young learners concentrate only for a short time
Suggested Solutions:
- Use various interesting activities.
- Exploit their curiosity and always ask them questions.
- Be lively, humorous, and interested.
- Praise them a lot verbally and non-verbally.
Challenge #2: Not all students learn the same way.
Suggested Solutions:
- Appeal to all senses.
- Use games.
- Use various teaching aids: Pictures, videos, songs … etc.
- Use pair-work and small groups.
Challenge #3: Some students are shy or don’t want to participate in class.
Suggested Solutions:
- Call your students with their names.
- Be patient and supportive.
- Do pair and group-work, and whole-class discussions.
- Provide constructive feedback.
Constructive feedback:
- Emphasizes that it is okay to make mistakes.
- Praises students’ failed attempts.
- Avoids embarrassing the students.
Challenge #4: Some students don’t like the set book & feel bored.
Suggested Solutions:
- Teach in context.
- Move from mechanical to meaningful, then to communicative activities.
- Integrate the four skills.
- Add interesting materials such as songs, pictures, and videos to the set book.
Challenge #5: It’s hard to control some students.
Suggested Solutions:
- Establish rules and routines from the first day.
- Have leaders in the class.
- Organize study groups.
- Ask students to help each other.
- Use a suitable seating arrangement: Circles are the best.
- Address everyone in the class.
- Move around.
- Maintain eye contact with students.
Thanks for taking the time to read this article.
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Teaching English to Young Learners: A Basic Guide For EFL Teachers
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