How to Teach English to Young Children

Teaching English to young children can seem like a daunting task, especially for non-native speakers. However, with some simple techniques and a little creativity, you can help your child pick up English quickly while having lots of fun along the way. Here are some tips to get you started.

Make It Fun

The key to teaching preschoolers is to make every activity engaging and playful. Young children have short attention spans, so you need to keep them actively participating to maximise learning. Preschool activities like scavenger hunts are great for practising vocabulary while exploring the house. Give your child a list of household items or objects of certain colours and have them search to find each one. You can also play guessing games using descriptive words like "big", "small", "round", and "square". Act out songs and rhymes using gestures and movement. The sillier, the better! Children will remember new words much more easily when they are paired with physical actions.

Speak Slowly and Clearly

Use simple, direct phrases when speaking to your child. Avoid complex sentence structures or using slang terms they won't understand. Make sure to enunciate each word clearly, as young children rely heavily on phonetic sounds. Don't be afraid to repeat words several times until your child can pronounce them. Speak slowly and give your child time to process what you are saying. Using hand gestures, pointing, and facial expressions will also help reinforce the meanings of words. Try to minimise background noise and distractions when working with your child. Turn off the TV and music so they can focus on the sounds of the language. Make eye contact and have them repeat key words back to you. The clearer you can make the English input, the faster they will comprehend it.

Label Objects around the House

Put up sticky notes or index cards with object names around your home. Label furniture, appliances, food items, toys, and body parts—anything your child encounters frequently. Refer to the labels often when using those words in sentences. "Let's sit on the sofa," or "Would you like an apple?" Hearing new vocabulary repeatedly throughout the day will help cement those words. Point to the labels and sound out the words together. Have your child trace the letters with their finger. Use different coloured markers to highlight the first letter or any repeating letters. Connecting the printed word with the spoken word will support early literacy skills.

Read Together Every Day

Make reading a part of your daily routine, even if it's only for 10-15 minutes. Cuddle up together and read aloud, running your finger under each word. Use silly voices for different characters to bring the story to life. Ask questions about what is happening in the pictures. Point out letters and words that repeat often. Reading daily exposes children to more new words than just about any other activity. Let your child select books they are interested in and encourage them to turn the pages. Re-read favourite stories over and over since repetition is key for language development. Stop periodically to define new words and expand on ideas from the story. The more interactive the reading experience, the more they will retain and learn.

Use Music, Games and Media

Surround your child with English through nursery rhymes, songs, audiobooks, educational tablet apps and children's programming. The repetition of lyrics and melodies makes music a great language-learning tool. Do motions along with the songs to help teach verbs. Games, media and apps designed for preschoolers often use limited vocabulary intentionally. Look for programmes that employ bright visuals, engaging characters and simple speech. Let your child take the lead in singing along or completing phrases in songs and stories. Don't expect perfection - the goal is to get them comfortable listening to and using new vocabulary. Give lots of praise for attempts and participation rather than correcting mistakes. The more input they receive, the faster their speech skills will improve.

Don't Correct Too Much

It's easy to want to jump in and correct every grammar mistake, but too much correction can hinder language development. For young children, focus more on modelling correct speech by rephrasing what they say. If your child says, "I goed to the park," reply with, "Oh, you went to the park? That sounds fun!" The more positive reinforcement they receive, the more risks they will take with language. If they consistently mispronounce a word, gently correct it by enunciating it slowly and asking them to say it back. Avoid direct criticism that could discourage them from expressing themselves. Remember that some 'errors' are a normal part of the learning process. Their English abilities will blossom over time with positive encouragement.

The more you can integrate English into everyday moments, the faster your child will become comfortable communicating. Just have fun together - that is the very best way for preschoolers to learn!