Use of songs, rhymes and games in teaching English

Use of songs, rhymes and games in teaching English

Ақтөбе облысы, Алға қаласы №1 Алға мектеп-бақшасы

        ағылшын тілі пән мұғалімі Мусина Асель Есенжоловна

Although children learn a language faster than adults, they do not learn through traditional language teaching methods. Through fun activities children can learn alanguage better as learning becomes natural for them since these activities do not make them conscious that they are learning a language. Since a proper learning atmosphere has not been ensured in children’s English classes according to children’s interest and psychological characteristics, benefit is yet to come fromthe compulsory English education at the primary level. In order to appeal to young learners’ learning styles, songs,rhymes and games can be very effective tools for teaching children a foreign language. These tools can be used in children’s classes to utilize their natural ability to learn a language. This paper introduces the benefits of some interesting tools in teaching children English and also suggests incorporating them at the primary level English. As a child, I could not remember my English lessons and thatmade my mother really worried about my future. Interestingly as I had great fondness for music and could easily rememberthe music lessons, my mother somehow managed to convert most of my lessons into music to interest me in my studies. Surprisingly, the technique worked well on me and gradually I started paying attention to my studies and relieved my mother of her worry. I can now relate the story of my childhood to that of the children who are really in need ofinteresting lessons for learning English. The reason is thatalthough children have an innate ability to learn a language they do not learn properly if they find their lessons boring and unexciting. In fact, children learn better through interesting activities and for this reason songs, rhymes and games are very useful tools for teaching them a foreign language. Actually these are the tools that help children learn in an enjoyable environment without making them feel the pressure of learning a foreign language. In Bangladesh, if we can introduce these tools in children’s English classes in place of the lessons not suitable for children, the objective for implementing compulsory English education from the primary level would be successful to a great extent. According to experts and their research, the earlier children start learning a second language, the higher are their chances of becoming more proficient as opposed to their learning of it later. Researchers also claim that the most appropriate time tolearn another language is between six and thirteen years of age.

But the last choice depends on you. It’s up to you weather to start early  and which methods to us

Good luck!