Development Stage for Learners.
Teaching English to Young Learner
Hallo guys.. Welcome back to my blog, I hope you all in good healthy and happy..
Here are some topics that I want to share in this blog :
1. How are "young learners" defined?
2. Through what developmental stages do young learners pass ?
3. What are the main challenges and solutions in TEYL ?
4. What is the optimal age for learning a foreign language ?
Sooo, let's go to the topic....
Definition
Based on my search for young learner, I conclude that young learner are students who are in elementary school who are learning English as a foreign language. In Indonesia the age of primary school students is from 7 to 12 years old, however, different countries have different ages of primary school students.
Developmental stages of learnes
The following are the stages of development that students go through. In the book "Managing intelligence in learning" Hamzah B.Uno and Masri Kuadrat divide the stages of student development which consists of 4 stages:
1. The first stage is called the motor sensory period (about 0-2 years). At this stage the child (baby) uses sensory organs and motor skills to understand the world around him.
2. The pre-operational stage (ages 2-7 years). At this stage the ability of the cognitive schema is still limited. Learners like to imitate other people's behavior. The behavior that is imitated is especially the behavior of other people (especially parents and teachers) that he has seen when that person responds to the behavior of people, conditions, and events that have been encountered in the past. Learners begin to be able to use correct words and express short sentences effectively.
3. Concrete operational stage (ages 7-11 years). At this stage students have begun to understand the cumulative aspects of the material, such as volume and quantity, have the ability to understand how to combine several groups of objects with varying levels. In addition, students are able to think systematically about concrete objects and events.
4. Formal operational stage (ages 11-15 years). At this stage, students are already in their teens. The cognitive development of students at this stage has the ability to coordinate two cognitive types, either simultaneously (simultaneously) or sequentially. For example, the capacity to formulate hypotheses (basic assumptions) learners are able to think about solving problems with the environment to which they respond. Meanwhile, with the capacity to use abstract principles, students will be able to learn abstract subject matter, such as religion, mathematics, and others.
Challenges and in TEYL
1. Manage the class
2. Delivering material
3. Don't understand what the teacher explains
4. The ability to write is lower than speaking
The Solutions in TEYL
Because many children in the class and students are in the active stage, it means they like to do what they like. For example telling stories and playing with friends while studying. so that it makes it difficult to deliver the material and results in students not understanding what the teacher explains. Overcoming this difficulty is that the teacher can make classroom rules so that students can be calmer when learning. Students also sometimes find it difficult to write rather than speak. For example, when the teacher gives material about the name of the day, they can express it, but when asked to write, they find it difficult.
Optimal age for learning a foreign language
Researchers in Boston, United States, suggest children can learn foreign languages optimally before the age of 10 years. This is based on the results of a study of 670,000 children they released in 2018. The study states that children's language learning abilities begin to weaken in adulthood compared to when children. Joshua Hartshorne, assistant professor of psychology at Boston College who wrote the study, said that the brain can absorb foreign languages maximally at a young age. Meanwhile Elizabeth Allen, a British citizen who teaches French and English, said the ideal age for children to learn foreign languages is three. year. This is based on the experiences he has had while teaching foreign languages since 1986. However, he warned, learning foreign languages should be made fun. Parents must accompany and create a relaxed learning atmosphere. "Learning is most effective through songs, games, or watching television programs and films in foreign languages," said Allen, who has taught languages in various countries. Allen suggests listening to and learning to sing foreign songs is the best way to strengthen foreign language learning. He advised parents to encourage their children to learn foreign languages before the age of 11. Because, based on his experience, children aged 11 years and over will have difficulty learning foreign languages compared to before that age.
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