Teaching English to Young Learners: China vs Poland

05 January

Teaching English to Young Learners: China vs Poland

 

Hi!

In today's post I wanted to share with You two videos of two different teachings. One of them is in Poland and another one is in China. I will write some aims and objectives of both lessons and answer a few questions below.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9zApy3VdXRw&feature=youtu.be

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DnWuS8ibce8&feature=emb_title

*AIMS*

POLAND:

- developing listening and speaking skills

- learning some names of the fruits

- developing counting skills

CHINA:

- developing listening and speaking skills

- learning some names of the fruits

- learning the difference between in/on (sink/float)

- learning there is a/an structure

*OBJECTIVES*

POLAND:

- students will be able to name 3 fruits (apple/pear/banana) and their colours

- students will be able to count to 6

- students will be able to count the fruits

CHINA:

- students will be able to name 4 fruits (apple/banana/orange/pear)

- students will be able to name 4 colours (red/yellow/green/blue)

- students will be able to say what is in and on (will be familiar with the structure in/on (sink/float))

- students will be able to use a/an in an appropriate way

*QUESTIONS*

1. Which teacher managed to achieve the aims/objectives better? Why?

In my opinion the Chinese teacher did better job. He reached the aims and the objectives in the most child-friendly way. His lesson was interesting, full of different and exciting tasks. The students were very engaged and wanted to participate in every activity. To be honest - he stole my heart. He seems to be such an inspiring teacher.

2. Is L1 necessary in teaching (very) young learners? Why?

Personally I think that it is not necessary to use L1 in teaching even very young learners. They hear things really well and quickly get more and more comfortable when the teacher speaks in a foreign language from the beginning. As we could see in the video of the Chinese teacher - kids are doing great without any elements of L1. In my opinion Polish teacher used too much L1 and it was not needed.

3. Which lesson did you like more? Why?

I liked the Chinese teacher's lesson more. I found his routines like clap your hands/ show me your hands very useful. He performed many different activities and kids were very engaged. I feel like his lesson was way more effective than the Polish teacher's one. He repeated phrases many times to make them easier to remember. Generally his attitude was incredibly positive.

What about You? Which lesson did you like more?

Let me know.

Zuzanna