I teach English in Mexico in small private groups. Everybody here says that the younger the child is, the quicker they learn. However, my experience is just the opposite. The younger they are, the more difficult it is for them to remember the vocabulary and dialogues, they have no grasp of basic grammar, and they can't get out what they've learned. I mean, no matter how much we practice and repeat, the younger students in my groups can't put together sentences or use the vocabulary they've learned. Once they are about 9 or 10, they are able to start speaking, not perfectly obviously, but using what they know. But the younger students are like a blank when it's their turn to participate in speaking activities.
Has anybody else had this experience? I don't know if I'm pushing them too hard and they just need more time or if I'm just not designing activities correctly. I think by the fourth semester they should make the jump to only speaking English, is this reasonable or too soon? The speaking activities we do in class don't seem to really be helping and I've found very few resources online for getting young children to speak.
Does anybody have any suggestions?
Getting 6,7 and 8 years olds to speak English
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Sally Olsen
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