After two and a half years old, I found it difficult to grasp the children's needs and progress through sporadic reading. So, I began to look for excellent graded reading materials. Finally, I can be screened out in the American reading series and the Oxford reading tree (the name of the domestic induced version is model English). After both sets were put into practice in Yue Yue, I consulted the ball mom (/timehere) and finally decided to use this set published in Britain for Yue Yue. The content is simple and interesting, and 3-year-old children can follow it. The content is vivid and they can repeat the dialogue with their children at any time in the same life scene.
Yue Yue insisted on inputting some English to her every day since she was 2 years old 10 months, because I think English is an essential tool for all subjects and one of the contents that children must learn. Moreover, experts and practice have proved that learning a second language will not confuse the mother tongue, and 3-6 years old is a sensitive period for learning a language. Children who are good at expressing their mother tongue often learn English more easily.
During his practice for Yue Yue, Yue Yue understood these words from the beginning. From understanding some sentences to starting to say some sentences; From following the content to the application to the same scene in life, the whole process will of course make mistakes, with Chinese and English mixed. But it is important that I see Yue Yue understand and improve English as a language itself. It makes me feel important. A set of correct and appropriate methods and daily persistence will make learning a language more effective.
If you don't understand, you won't say it; If you can't talk, you won't read; You can't write if you can't read. This is a process of language learning. I am not an English major, and my English foundation is not solid. I made a breakthrough in English later because I watched many original American movies, such as Friends and Desperate Housewives. Many life conversations inside naturally become blurted out language after repeated ringing in the ear.
For children who have just learned a language, listening more is the basis of mastering the language. Of course, when I say listening, I definitely don't mean listening to words. Words are of course important and are the basic elements of a sentence. However, children's language steps are not reflected in the simple memory of words, but in the understanding of words in the context. Therefore, understanding the words in a sentence and then using them to express the sentence is to master the language, not to memorize it.
Watch the original English cartoons, listen to mother read picture books aloud, and use network resources, such as www.starfall.com, the American starfall website, to input children's understanding and memory of language in a three-dimensional way. When children hear the same words and content repeatedly in different materials, they will deepen their understanding of words and sentences in different contexts.
After trying some methods for Yue Yue intermittently, I began to insist:
1. Dialogue in life
(1) I speak English and the children listen. For example, I make exaggerated expressions and actions, "Oh, I'm hungry". Hey, come to me, I need a big hug. And so on. For English-speaking mothers, natural dialogue in life is the fastest way for children to master the language. For children whose mother tongue is not English, a better way is to combine actions and gestures to help them understand. For example, if you say "jump", jump up and show it to her. For example, "I'm running", "I'm hiding" and "I'm hungry" can be expressed by actions. Without translation, children will naturally understand what they are saying. However, there are many languages that can't be expressed by body, and our children can't guess. In this case, after speaking English, speak Chinese again, but don't deliberately translate word for word. This is also an effective way for me to learn from Wang Peizan's book Cultivating Children's English Ears.
Yue Yue speaks Chinese, and I repeat her words in English. For example, Yue Yue said, "I want to drive". I repeat, "Oh, you miss the panda". In this process, children can naturally master the expressions of two languages.
When she made a mistake, I didn't correct it, but just repeated it correctly. For example, Yue Yue pointed to something and asked, "Who is it?"? I repeat: "What is it"? When she said it the second time, her expression naturally changed and became: "What is it?"?
2. Speak English original picture books (about 15 minutes every day)
A set of graded reading materials can help children learn languages from simple to complex systems. It is also convenient for mothers to master the degree and progress of their children and to speak and read repeatedly. Repetition is very important for children to learn a language. A lot of repetition can produce free expression. As I said before, I use model English, an inductive version of the Oxford Reading Tree in England. This set of graded reading materials is my favorite at present, and Yue Yue has always been interested in reading. Every child has different preferences, which may not be suitable for other children.
(1) There are only two classes a week, which are repeated every day. In the process of learning a language by myself, I understand that if you want to turn a foreign language into your own language, you should repeat it a lot. There is no repeated accumulation, just want to be quick, and you must not have laid a good foundation.
(2) I read first and then read. For example, I watch "Everyone went to that part" and then repeat it. If the pronunciation is correct, read the next sentence. What needs to be emphasized here is not to correct mistakes, but to repeat the correct ones. I will speak Chinese to her once for things whose expressions and actions are incomprehensible. According to Wang Peizan, if you speak English three times, you only need to speak Chinese once.
(3) After reading it several times, if Yue Yue can read the pictures, he can start the next lesson (this is based on the practice of the ball mother), but don't force the children to recite. The ultimate goal of memory is to transform it into a language that you can understand and express. Therefore, repetition and extensive reading are the key.
(4) Flexible use and flexible use of picture book content. For example, learn the lesson "making faces". It says, "Chip is sad". I will make a sad expression, then say "Look, I am sad" with a sad face, and then ask her "Are you sad?" . Yue Yue replied, "Yes". I went on to say, "Let me see your sad face". Yue Yue can understand the meaning of this sentence from my expression, and then she also expects a sad expression. If Yue Yue doesn't listen in the scene of life, I will be very sad. If the same words and sentences are used flexibly in different scenes, children will not understand the language so mechanically.
(3) Use audio-visual materials (20 minutes per day).
I used Disney Magic English. I choose anything for Yue Yue as long as it is interesting. If you can't attract children, you can't achieve results. It seems to be playing, but in fact, it is the mother's embellishment that is silent, and the child benefits unconsciously. Secondly, because the content is simple and repetitive, the language is understood in the scene. I often play this CD for Yue Yue while cooking. I often hear little people talking to themselves and reading after them.
(4) Starfall (every day 10 minute)
Many American mothers know this website. Very interesting. It starts with the simplest ABC phonics and goes to learning to read. Reading is very interesting. I am reading, which helps children learn to read in stages. Mothers who know some spelling know that American children learn to read from spelling. Our traditional learning methods are memorizing phonetic symbols, memorizing words and learning grammar. This traditional method is basically to gradually understand the content of the article on the basis of memory. Learning to spell (natural reverse spelling) can make children read words without knowing them. It can double the reading quality and speed of children. This website has enough resources for children who are just beginning to learn pinyin.
Yue Yue learns only two letters a week, repeats them every day, and has one or two interesting games. After two months of accumulation, I asked her to try to make a phonetic defense in Learn to Read, and I have initially seen her sensitivity to phonetic defense.
It seems quite complicated, but in fact, you can't learn 1 hour by stages every day. I'm relaxed. Yue Yue doesn't think I'm studying. We still have a lot of time to play other things. My experience, correct methods, daily persistence and a lot of repetition are the keys to language learning.
1. Persistence is very important
Even if you only need 10 minutes to input some to your child every day, it will have an effect over time. But if you study for half an hour today and don't study for several days in a row, the effect is often not ideal. A child's cleverness may not be successful, but perseverance will certainly be rewarded. Parents can insist on doing one thing, which is a good example for their children.
2. Repetition is important
I often hear some mothers complain that foreign teachers say that "this teacher teaches English too slowly, and all the children have mastered it". Mastering a language is different from mastering subject knowledge. You can't master it by memory, you can't master it by saying this sentence. Only when you can express the language freely in different situations can you master it. I also see many children making rapid progress in their studies. It seems that they have learned different contents in many classes, but as long as you ask her in another way, you won't understand. For example, my aunt's daughter, 6 years old, is familiar with words such as color and size, and knows everything. However, I changed my mind and asked, "Which is bigger?"? Or "What's your favorite color"? Her eyes are confused and I don't know why. So, abandon it quickly and abandon the psychology of wanting to see the results. Language learning is bound to be a long-term and massive input, which will bring amazing breakthroughs.
3. Method is very important
Learn a language as a language, not as a subject. The purpose of learning English is to enable children to use this language tool to dabble in other disciplines more widely. Find the right material, and use my mother's imagination and creativity because of love to make language learning interesting. From listening and speaking, from speaking to reading, to writing, stick to it step by step.
Hehe, boast. There must be a lot of imperfections when standing guard. I just want to give my experience to those friends who have asked me, hoping to learn from it. If there is a better learning method, I look forward to learning and discussing.
Supplementary content: about model English
Seeing the message, some mothers began to pay attention to model English. I want to make it clear that this is a version imported from China. The content of the first level is compressed from the original 60 picture books into two relatively thick books with two CDs inside. This makes me feel even more sorry. Because pictures and words are compressed. Different from the original "Oxford reading tree", a thin book is more fulfilling to read locally, and children can hold it in their hands. I wanted to buy the original, but I searched online and found the price too expensive. The first level 60 originally cost 2700 yuan (I mean the content of the first level). If you want to buy all the fifth grade of primary school, you need 1 more than ten thousand yuan. The other one, also reprinted online, is of good quality. Unfortunately, there are only 18 copies, and the content is incomplete. The model English is complete. So I have to buy the original at a lower price.
Please understand carefully before buying. I have seen other people's experiences before, and some of them are not applicable. This is just my personal and children's feelings. As for where you bought it, let's search it on Taobao. There is a special authorization to sell model English, which has a detailed introduction about model English.