As a parent, you want the best possible life for your children and give them every opportunity you can. I’m sure there’s been times when you’ve heard them complain – “My English is pretty basic”. That’s why you want to make sure that they learn English and speak it fluently so that they can get the best possible jobs and become well-rounded individuals who are comfortable with communicating in different situations around the world.
Whether you’re an expat or just thinking about teaching your kids, here are 10 tips to help kids learn English fluently.
Table of Contents :
- Start Early
- Be Consistent
- Focus on Listening and Speaking
- Work on Reading and Writing First
- Model Good Speech Habits for Your Children
- Avoid Negative Influences
- Practice! Practice! Practice!
- Listen to Great Speakers and Listen Often
- Get the Tools They Need
- Ask For Feedback, Give Feedback Often.
Start Early
The best way to learn a language is by starting early. For children aged two to four, the most effective way of learning is through play. Fun to Learn organizes playgroups for young children and their parents on a monthly basis in Hong Kong. The group gathers at the venue with toys and activities such as singing, dancing, and craft-making sessions that are designed to introduce new vocabulary in a fun way.
Be Consistent
Kids can learn English very quickly, but they need a lot of practice and consistency. The key is to find ways for them to learn that is fun and interesting so that they want to do it again and again.
- Join a playgroup where all the kids speak English, or find an online game where you can only use English words.
- Use songs with lyrics in English, or try reading short stories in English.
- Keep practicing! Children have a much easier time learning when they hear something over and over again until it becomes second nature.
- Have your child read books aloud – this will help them memorize words more easily.
Focus on Listening and Speaking
Phonemic awareness is an essential skill for children who are getting ready to learn to read, or for those who are struggling to get the hang of basic reading. If kids realize that words can be divided into separate phonemes and that phonemes can be combined to make words, they’re able to utilize letter-sound knowledge to read and construct words.
Work on Reading and Writing
English is a difficult language to learn for kids who are not native speakers. If you want your kids to learn the language, they must learn how to read and write. By focusing on these two skills, you will be able to help your children develop their fluency in the English language.
Model Good Speech Habits for Your Children
Kids learn by watching and copying what they see. Teaching them good speech habits early on will help them learn English to speak fluently. Model the following rules for your children:
– Speak clearly and in a firm voice
– Use full sentences, not short phrases, when talking
– Make eye contact while talking
– Always speak with politeness and respect
– Never interrupt someone else’s conversation or call people names
“My English is pretty basic” – Avoid Negative Influences
If you want your kids to learn English fluently, they mustn’t be exposed to negative influences. Don’t allow them to hang out with people who don’t speak the language or listen to music in other languages. If you have family members who are coming over for dinner, make sure that they speak in English and let your children understand that this is a rule. When children are surrounded by positive influences like these, they will learn more quickly and have more success learning the new language.
Practice! Practice! Practice!
Learning a new language is a bit like learning to play an instrument. The best way for your kids to learn how to speak English fluently is through practice, practice, and more practice. Learn English fluently with these tips:
You can help your kid learn by finding a learning environment that is conducive to their learning needs. For example, if your kid has difficulty understanding native speakers or gets frustrated easily, you can enroll them in ESL classes or tutoring sessions where they’re surrounded by people who share the same challenges.
Listen to Great Speakers and Listen Often
Kids learn best by hearing and doing. Listen to great speakers, read aloud, and listen often. This may seem like a lot of work for you but it will be worth it because kids learn best by hearing and doing. Listening is a great way for them to start practicing their pronunciation of English. They will also be able to better understand the spoken words they hear from others or read themselves because they are learning how words are put together into sentences and phrases. Learning to speak English fluently will open up so many doors for your kids as they grow up.
Get the Tools They Need
If you want your kids to learn English as a second language, they need to have the right tools. Even if you are fluent in both languages, having these tools can make the transition easier.
1) Playgroup in HK – This group has been around for over 20 years and offers classes in Cantonese and Mandarin for kids aged 2 months through 12 years old.
2) School in HK – For children aged 3-12, this school offers a variety of classes including drama, music, reading comprehension, and more.
Ask For Feedback, Give Feedback Often
Giving and receiving feedback is an important part of learning English. When you give feedback to your kids, it helps them to understand what they are doing well and what they need to work on. It also shows them that you are interested in their learning and that you value their progress. When you ask for feedback from your kids, it shows that you are open to learning from them and that you value their input. Asking for feedback also helps to build trust and rapport between you and your kids.
Conclusion
Children have a much easier time learning when they hear something over and over again until it becomes second nature. We organize playgroups for young children and their parents on a monthly basis in Hong Kong. Have your child read books aloud – this will help them memorize words more easily. If you want your kids to learn the language, they must learn how to read and write first. For those teaching ESL students, remember that reading and writing come before speaking and listening. By focusing on these two skills, you will be able to help your children develop their fluency in the English language.
