We're delighted to hear that you want to teach languages to kids!
Teaching languages is one of the most rewarding things you can do, but at times, it can also be demanding. Keeping your young audience happy and engaged is key, but they also have to learn.
Here at The Way You Learn, we have designed a unique way of delivering language sessions for kids which are meaningful, engaging and memorable.
Teaching languages is one of the most rewarding things you can do, but at times, it can also be demanding. Keeping your young audience happy and engaged is key, but they also have to learn.
Here at The Way You Learn, we have designed a unique way of delivering language sessions for kids which are meaningful, engaging and memorable.
We combine all of these elements into every session to create lessons that are meaningful, engaging and memorable.
Songs: singing allows children to use new words straight away, promoting communicative competence and correct pronunciation.
Rhythm: rhythm helps to keep focus, clarity and creativity while synchrony helps cognitive development.
Role-plays: create real-life scenarios where students, brave or shy, can practice a new language.
Movement: helps engage the mind and memory also helps retain and understand new vocabulary.
Stories: stories help the reader or listener recognise grammar patterns and learn new words and phrases.
Games: help break down any learning barriers, anxiety, and fear of making mistakes. Games can increase the pace of learning and motivation.
Songs: singing allows children to use new words straight away, promoting communicative competence and correct pronunciation.
Rhythm: rhythm helps to keep focus, clarity and creativity while synchrony helps cognitive development.
Role-plays: create real-life scenarios where students, brave or shy, can practice a new language.
Movement: helps engage the mind and memory also helps retain and understand new vocabulary.
Stories: stories help the reader or listener recognise grammar patterns and learn new words and phrases.
Games: help break down any learning barriers, anxiety, and fear of making mistakes. Games can increase the pace of learning and motivation.
Topics: going on a play date, in the playground, daily routine, at the doctors, at the zoo, on the farm, in the library, at the dentist, at school/playgroup, at a party
Key words: family, food, drinks, clothing, animals, weather, transport, toys, body, colours and numbers with a focus on possessives, prepositions, imperatives, requests and responses
Key words: family, food, drinks, clothing, animals, weather, transport, toys, body, colours and numbers with a focus on possessives, prepositions, imperatives, requests and responses
Learning outside the classroom
We believe that learning should continue outside our classrooms and we’d like to provide parents with a few tools for this.
Songs: Thanks to the catchy tunes, both parents and the kids are likely to continue singing long after the session. Kids might not remember the exact words, but they should try to reconstruct the text, a “dictogloss” or “reconstruction” activity which is commonly used in language teaching. How do they work? Reconstruction activities give kids an opportunity to practice the new language and to notice language patterns and rules. They reduce kids’ anxiety as they practise in a safe environment and result in active involvement - all of these aid memory.
Books: kids can receive a little booklet, hard copy or soft, at the end of each session, so they can read the stories again and again. As stated above, books are effective tools for language learning. Reading helps recognising grammar patterns, learning new words and phrases. At the back of each booklet, there are activities that kids will enjoy completing and can help them track progress.
Audio: to help with the pronunciation, an audio version of each story book could be sent to parents
We believe that learning should continue outside our classrooms and we’d like to provide parents with a few tools for this.
Songs: Thanks to the catchy tunes, both parents and the kids are likely to continue singing long after the session. Kids might not remember the exact words, but they should try to reconstruct the text, a “dictogloss” or “reconstruction” activity which is commonly used in language teaching. How do they work? Reconstruction activities give kids an opportunity to practice the new language and to notice language patterns and rules. They reduce kids’ anxiety as they practise in a safe environment and result in active involvement - all of these aid memory.
Books: kids can receive a little booklet, hard copy or soft, at the end of each session, so they can read the stories again and again. As stated above, books are effective tools for language learning. Reading helps recognising grammar patterns, learning new words and phrases. At the back of each booklet, there are activities that kids will enjoy completing and can help them track progress.
Audio: to help with the pronunciation, an audio version of each story book could be sent to parents
Session pictures:
Let us know when you are ready to run a class using our materials and we will be delighted to provide you with:
· soft copy of materials (you will need to translate these to the language you'd like to teach)
· leaflet suggestions
· training to help you with the delivery
· quarterly support and observation if required
· advice on how to get started i.e.: room hire, advertisement etc.
· soft copy of materials (you will need to translate these to the language you'd like to teach)
· leaflet suggestions
· training to help you with the delivery
· quarterly support and observation if required
· advice on how to get started i.e.: room hire, advertisement etc.
Evidence for Learning
"A day after our first Spanish session I asked my daughter to tidy up her room. Her reply? "Yo, no quiero" (I don't want to- in Spanish). Just like in the Get Dressed song!" Sumayyah (age 7) - A great example how kids apply learnt language in different contexts successfully (founder's comment)
"Zozi was reluctant to participate during his first German session. However, in the car he sang one of the German songs all the way home." Zozi (age 6) - A clear example how some kids learn from exposure, then practice learnt items in what we regard as a safe environment. (founder's comment)
"Mila was listening to session 1 in Arabic on her friend's mum's phone. At the end the teacher says "Masallama". Mila immediately said "That means Good-bye!" I was gobsmacked as it had been her very first time hearing Arabic words, so I asked "How do you know?" Mila's reply "I don't know how I know, I just know!" Mila (age 5 1/2) - A perfect example of how kids learn languages from exposure, and emerging themselves into ungraded language. (founder's comment)
"A week after her first German session, Emily was getting dressed and spontaneously started singing the Get Dressed song. Even taught her father the words." Emily (age 3 1/2) - A classic example of how songs are stored in our long term memory and can be triggered by an event. (founder's comment)
"2-3 days after our first Spanish session I asked Aya if she still remembered the Marching Song. When she said she didn't, I started humming the melody and sang the first few words (the only ones I remembered) "Vamos a jugar." My daughter's eyes lit up and with a massive grin on her face sang the second line "visitar al amigo". We got very excited and kept humming, singing, trying out different words and variations until we managed to complete the whole song. We still sing it every now and then. Great fun! Aya (age 6 1/2) - a genuine example of how construction activities work in second language learning.
"A day after our first Spanish session I asked my daughter to tidy up her room. Her reply? "Yo, no quiero" (I don't want to- in Spanish). Just like in the Get Dressed song!" Sumayyah (age 7) - A great example how kids apply learnt language in different contexts successfully (founder's comment)
"Zozi was reluctant to participate during his first German session. However, in the car he sang one of the German songs all the way home." Zozi (age 6) - A clear example how some kids learn from exposure, then practice learnt items in what we regard as a safe environment. (founder's comment)
"Mila was listening to session 1 in Arabic on her friend's mum's phone. At the end the teacher says "Masallama". Mila immediately said "That means Good-bye!" I was gobsmacked as it had been her very first time hearing Arabic words, so I asked "How do you know?" Mila's reply "I don't know how I know, I just know!" Mila (age 5 1/2) - A perfect example of how kids learn languages from exposure, and emerging themselves into ungraded language. (founder's comment)
"A week after her first German session, Emily was getting dressed and spontaneously started singing the Get Dressed song. Even taught her father the words." Emily (age 3 1/2) - A classic example of how songs are stored in our long term memory and can be triggered by an event. (founder's comment)
"2-3 days after our first Spanish session I asked Aya if she still remembered the Marching Song. When she said she didn't, I started humming the melody and sang the first few words (the only ones I remembered) "Vamos a jugar." My daughter's eyes lit up and with a massive grin on her face sang the second line "visitar al amigo". We got very excited and kept humming, singing, trying out different words and variations until we managed to complete the whole song. We still sing it every now and then. Great fun! Aya (age 6 1/2) - a genuine example of how construction activities work in second language learning.
Guardians' Testimonies
"It's great to do something with my son .. he's usually quite critical of classes and especially kids clubs .. he tends to not want to go as he knows I’ll leave him .. I think he liked that I could come along with him & that I was at a basic level too - it makes it more accessible for him .. my son said he enjoys the singing & the teacher. I felt a nostalgia for when I did baby sign with him as a infant - I really enjoy learning something as he does and see him progress .. as they get older I’ve tended to leave him be but it shows here that he needs the nurture from me." Rachel
"I just wanted to leave a comment here about the German session we visited on Tuesday. The songs were catchy and fun. The 7 year old boy, whom I look after, was enjoying himself and participated in the activities and games. The teacher was professional, friendly and confident. She made sure that everybody in the class was engaged. Highly recommended" Fatemeh
"What a great way to learn a new language! My daughter ( 5.5 years old) absolutely loves The Way You Learn Spanish classes. The teacher is professional, and knows how to engage kids with singing and other activities." Anna
"I love the idea that I was able to learn with my children. Usually I'd be waiting outside getting bored OR if I wanted to go to a class for Adults, I wouldn't be able to as I have 3 children and they wouldn't be allowed in." Iole
"It's great to do something with my son .. he's usually quite critical of classes and especially kids clubs .. he tends to not want to go as he knows I’ll leave him .. I think he liked that I could come along with him & that I was at a basic level too - it makes it more accessible for him .. my son said he enjoys the singing & the teacher. I felt a nostalgia for when I did baby sign with him as a infant - I really enjoy learning something as he does and see him progress .. as they get older I’ve tended to leave him be but it shows here that he needs the nurture from me." Rachel
"I just wanted to leave a comment here about the German session we visited on Tuesday. The songs were catchy and fun. The 7 year old boy, whom I look after, was enjoying himself and participated in the activities and games. The teacher was professional, friendly and confident. She made sure that everybody in the class was engaged. Highly recommended" Fatemeh
"What a great way to learn a new language! My daughter ( 5.5 years old) absolutely loves The Way You Learn Spanish classes. The teacher is professional, and knows how to engage kids with singing and other activities." Anna
"I love the idea that I was able to learn with my children. Usually I'd be waiting outside getting bored OR if I wanted to go to a class for Adults, I wouldn't be able to as I have 3 children and they wouldn't be allowed in." Iole
What parents said about the TWYL language courses
Want to run a class like this?
Interesting articles and references
(all accessed on 24.04.2019)
https://learnoutlive.com/your-brain-on-storytelling-foreign-language-learning-through-stories/
https://takelessons.com/blog/language-learning-methods-z14
https://www.fluentin3months.com/learning-a-language-through-music/
https://www.iwillteachyoualanguage.com/blog/learn-a-language-through-stories Bottom of Form
https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2014/06/17/322915700/your-brains-got-rhythm-and-syncs-when-you-think
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/08/16/well/move/how-exercise-could-help-you-learn-a-new-language.html
https://www.teachingenglish.org.uk/article/role-play
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JpUVMpX62nw
(all accessed on 24.04.2019)
https://learnoutlive.com/your-brain-on-storytelling-foreign-language-learning-through-stories/
https://takelessons.com/blog/language-learning-methods-z14
https://www.fluentin3months.com/learning-a-language-through-music/
https://www.iwillteachyoualanguage.com/blog/learn-a-language-through-stories Bottom of Form
https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2014/06/17/322915700/your-brains-got-rhythm-and-syncs-when-you-think
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/08/16/well/move/how-exercise-could-help-you-learn-a-new-language.html
https://www.teachingenglish.org.uk/article/role-play
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JpUVMpX62nw