TEACHING ENGLISH TO CHILDREN - THE LEARNER, THE LEARNING PROCESS AND THE TEACHER

Children have an approach to language and to learning that is different from adults or teenagers. An appropriate methodology relies on their great capacity to learn from audio-visual input, their ability to understand and copy their teacher, their love of labels and lists, and their ability to recognize and use patterns. Learner and teacher have to be connected within the learning process in order for actual learning to take place. This session will look at important aspects of the learning process and the role of learners and learning in it.

Introduction to Teaching English to Children

The TBI ITEC (Introduction to Teaching English to Children) is a 30-hour course designed to introduce participants to a modern, fun, 'activity-based' approach to teaching English to children aged seven to twelve.

The course consists of input sessions that aim to demonstrate the value of generating authentic communication through practical tasks in the language classroom. The participants try out a number of lesson types based on songs, craft activities, drama, games and storytelling, and reflect on the language teaching points generated. The participants plan and teach mini-lessons using the activities. One of the tutors observes this peer teaching and gives the participants immediate feedback on their performance. In addition to the input sessions, the participants watch a demonstration given by one of the tutors, and also have the opportunity to observe experienced TBI teachers teaching our children's classes.