Job Discussion Forums

[level]

Hi,

I'm 'teaching' kindergarten (2-6) and finding it a real struggle. I just don't know what to do with these kids. The youngest hardly speak Chinese so how am I expected to 'teach' them English? I really need some suggestions as to what to do with them. The youngest only see me for 15 mins and the oldest for 30 mins. I also have to do and hour long 'English Corner' after school hours. We're doing fruit and veg and animals at the moment. Any help is greatly appreciated.

[vikdk]

Small children see the world in black and white � good and bad � so to get them talking you want to pose some very simple questions, which they have to answer � yes/no or good/bad. For example if you teach fruit what you should be really teaching is eating � hold an apple to your mouth and pretend to eat � put your thumb up and say yes/good. Then take something that is obviously non-edible � say a pencil and pretend to eat that � your kids will soon be shouting no/bad � and they�ll have a good laugh at the same time. You can gradually extend such a lesson to simple sentences � eating apple very very good (I�ve included 2 verys because it gives the sentence a nice balance for chanting � Chinese kids are good at that!!) � eating pencil very very bad. The next step up is to start drawing with the pencil and trying to draw with an apple � then what you are drawing � then what you can draw on � etc etc

This way of teaching gives a lot of scope � you can use it with so many daily things. Washing dirty good/ clean bad / what you wash with � clothes / warm cloth good in cold weather and vice versa / what clothes to where and what part of the body to put them on. You can also make it exceedingly simple � even 2 year olds can take part � and if they don�t learn English at least they learn a concept � which will help them take part classes latter on, and help with their general social development. But most of all make it funny � nothing like putting a pair of pants on your head and saying �here good� � to get your kids really into the mood for wanting your lessons � and you know what they�ll soon be shouting � �no bad� � and pointing to there asses and shouting �here good�.

By the way I don�t need to point out the differences between 2 and 6 year olds � 2 year old need to be taught simple concepts roughly based on black/white � yes/no principles (this can be done in English with some good mime and appropriate teaching articles � and you need a damn good AT) � children 3 to 4 can be taught a series of words and be presented with very simple yes/no, good/bad questions � we have children from 5 that are actually speaking simple English but we have taught those kids continuously for over 2 years � at this age they have the ability to really listen � we try to trick them by asking then to repeat some outrageous sentence � but nearly every time, if they know the words used, they react immediately.

By the way, you�ll probably get opposition from the Chinese teachers using this method � they want regurgitated sentences � but hold fast, nobody should torture small children in formal lessons � give them some fun � in the end the teachers will start laughing as well.

As far as your English corner is concerned � if it with small kids � play ball with them, and other games � �come here� �I want� �I like� �what do you want� � simple commands and questions � until the children are able to tell you what to do � then build on it.

I also forgot to say simple songs are also good - and be prepaired to make lots of flashcards and always be on the lookout out for teaching props - best of luck

[mandu]

if Iam teaching 2 year olds or 3 year olds i start off with

hello song
walk run jump fly (tpr)
theme-you can teach them pretty much anything(animals, colors, food,etc



songs-twinkle twinkle little star,you could make stars with the children and then sing the song.

this is the way
this is the way we wash our face so early in the morning

wash our hands,clean our teeth,brush our hair its a good song with many actions

storys are good eg spot goes to the farm,spot goes to the circus good books for this age

the lesson should be fun with know pressure put on the children to speak,if the lesson is fun the children will learn.
give lots of praise to the children even if they make a mistake.
when you enter the class room drop down to the childrens level so you dont over power them.
be careing,positive,a friend,a brother or sister a mother a father and a teacher or rolled in to one.

play dough is good to use in class,sitting down on the floor playing with blocks is good as well

my fav age to teach are parents class, nursery,k1,i have been teaching this age group for 5years in China and my back ground is childcare if i can help you with anything let me know

[Roger]

I wish you good luck and I hope you have stamina to see your course through!

I personally would love to teach at this level any time because it is where you can really make the biggest difference to a student's life. However, I have a serious problem with the CHINESE concept of kindergarten education.

First of all: kindergartens ought to employ specially trained workers; you are not teaching English to students per se - you are preparing them for study at school.

You must take into consideration the DEVELOPMENTAL differences between a 2-year old and a 6-year old, and between these two age groups and primary school students. Huge differences!

You may already have noticed that kindergarten classes are less well structured and scheduled - often the kids are not ready when you come to their class. While superficially this seems to originate in poor planning it relates to a deeper-rooted reality: at this stage your pupils cannot be squeezed into a tightly organised timetable.
The same is true of your lesson plans: you must be creative and accommodating.

Their lessons never last longer than 30 minutes (although stupid exceptions do exist!). The attention span of such young children is more limited, of course.

Thus, you should not "teach" so much - you should ACT, play, organise games and activities that use meaningful language to convey messages of practical import.
In other words: cut out abstract topics, refuse to use translations and make them move!

You don't need to teach them 20 vocables a week; remember they are still in their infancy, and that means their grasp on their mother tongue is equally unsettled and underdeveloped. Teach things they can understand from their contexts.

This means you should do things such as moving body limbs and name these movements; you can also teach other topics of vital importance (foods, objects in a home, natural beings etc.), but you should abstain from piling too many different names into their memories.

Instead practise with them grammatically correct usages - teach them the differences between the "I' and the "you" and "he" and "she"; these differences take time and practice, not many explanations but a lot of exercise.
You have it in your hands to instill in these young learners the correct handling of English, - SVA, the right tenses, in short: all those things that Chinese teachers feel they can neglect in the interest of a more quantitative approach to learning English, with the devsstating long-term effects we all can daily observe.

[vikdk]

A factor with kindergarten work that needs to be realized by the newcomer, is that most western kindergartens are child care institutes which give social training to their kids, while most (there are exceptions) Chinese kindies are just mini schools � who place their kids behind desks! My girlfriend has told when she was a toddler things weren�t so grim � they just used to play, learn to read and draw � much the same as a typical western kindergarten. Then came private kindies � and the realization that you could make a stack of cash out of them � that is if you could fool the parents into thinking � for not so small a fee - they could develop young Einsteins by the bucket full.

The outcome is a pedagogic disaster area � of course fueled by greed phased kindergarten investors who are after more profit. This results in many heavy demands placed on the teachers � Chinese kindergartens employ many teachers � that are required to train kids into displaying knowledge (have you ever been to an English competition with kindy kids � yuckkkkkk) � in many cases almost as if training a dog � indoctrination pedagogy. I�m afraid in many kindies the childcare stuff is just about receiving feeding, and handing back the toddlers � with not a great amount of effort placed on promoting any meaningful individual social development.

Luckily for FT�s we just have to show up with a white face � and they want us as Monkeys, not trainers, that way we can draw a bigger crowd � and a heftier profit. But you know what if we do take a stand � introduce child development friendly practices into many of these very unhappy institutions � and have a low tolerance when we confront bad child-care then we can make a difference.

So to the newbie in this game �no matter how many of our tips you employ in your workplace � you aint going to be of much effect unless you use your biggest teaching asset - your conscious � do what you think is right � don�t be scared to speak your mind when you presented with something that you feel is obviously wrong. If you can actually teach your kids to speak a few words of English then fine � but always have in mind, that when dealing with kids between the ages of 2 and 6 the real product from your work should be a caring presence which promotes positive social development and individual social skill � skills that otherwise, often seem to be sadly ignored.

[Roger]

[Bethany123]

I can fully relate to level's situation. I also teach kindergarten, ages 1-6. I'm happy with entertaining the younger kids, but I have absolutely zero resources. I work for a brand new school - so just having an extra piece of paper for every student to color on is a real challange. I have no flashcards, no pictures or words, so I feel like I'm at a dead end. I've gone to Walmart and bought some of my own supplies, but I've already run out. I hope I make it through the year..

[vikdk]

Hey Bethany � flashcards are a must � cheapest way of making them is as follows

Photocopy paper � worse quality � colored pencils , not wax crayons or cheap felt tips � buy decent quality pencils so the leds don�t break � and a thick black marker pen for drawing picture outlines.

If you need to copy a pic for your flash card go to google or yahoo images � they are a good source of pics.

I protect my flashcards by putting them into clear plastic � I can�t remember the name of the machine � you know the one that melts the plastic onto the original paper (that�s why you don�t use wax crayons) � your office should have one � if not and you intend to stay in one place for some time you can buy them in a stationary market with a lot of bargaining for just over 200 yuan � in supermarket they cost 500 plus. The plastic covers are also a bit expensive � but hold your work in good condition � we even wash our flashcards now and again.

You of course can use ordinary clear plastic covers � taking the required pics in and out. Unprotected flashcards don�t last long !

To make cards really quickly � you need felt pens since you can apply lots of color in a short space of time. Cheap pens are terrible quality and don�t last � I use art pens at 6 yuan each � they last me a year and I draw a lot of pics � they also have a broad tip for coloring quickly � the quality of color is also good. They almost come up to quality with those you can buy back home but at quarter of the price � so they are really worth getting.

Of course we don�t just use flash cards � there are lots of other stuff to use and make � wigs out of wool � a spring loaded tape measure, kids just love to shout - up up up or out out out - and then scream with laughter when the tape snaps back in � sticky colored paper, put that on toilet paper rolls, and you have building blocks � things from building brick sets like doors and windows, the ones that open are best � and a thousand other pieces of Shiit we have accumulated here

Some schools or companies aint interested in helping getting this stuff so beg, borrow or steal and you should be able to get along.

[Roger]

Bethany,
resources for kindergarten: it need not be flashcards and then more flashcards all the time. That is fine and dandy but it ain't everything.
You must also keep your little darlings busy, and that means no sitting. Enough said - I have often told how a lively and productive kindergarten "class" is run. It shouldn't be a typical classroom! Your kids deserve BETTER!

Another point: I found a lovely VCD series called ENGLISH WONDERLAND produced by a CHinese company. It was a series of 5 VCDs accompanied by a colourful book with transcripts of the dialogues. This was ideal for rehearsing with the kids; the VCDs were excellent and stimulated the kids into spontaneous repeating after the characters. The voice-overs were done by native Americdan speakers (though indeterminate, no definite local dialect, yay).

As you see, I pointed to two activities at opposite extremes: if you want to have your kids sit down and increase their attention span show them a VCD. They will love it and pick up the English with hardly any effort. You can then act out the scenes with the kids or rhearse the dialoges again.

On the other hand your learners need to move; you must have noticed they cannot sit still for any five minutes. They are at this stage developing their motor skills; this is the moment when you can teach them how to use their body. I suggest you do some calisthenics with them, or walkabouts. They love competitions. We had a race track, and for the kids to learn to outcompete each other was unbelievable fun.

[vikdk]

small children being encouraged to "outcompete" each other - can you tell me what you do for the losers Roger?

[Roger]

vikky,
"the losers" - you obviously are not motivated by true Olympic spirit! Why do you see runners-up as "losers"? This points to a judgemental deficiency! They do not necessarily view themselves as "losers"! Those that I had run on a 50 meter track arriving second or third still enjoyed their experience hugely.
The contests I held were a sort of activity similar to games, and at the age of 3 to 6 kids do not always feel inferior because they do not make it past the post ahead of others. That is a problem that is cultivated in them at a later stage - when teachers and parents focus on marks!
Did you in your early childhood experience ostracism because you were not always No. 1? I don't believe that unless you had a particularly cruel teacher and fellow pupils! As a matter of fact, I think Chinese kids ought to be exposed to a little more competition so as to learn to excel at what they are best.
This would raise their self-awareness and their ambitions!

[vikdk]

Sorry Roger I think I was focusing on the unfortunate word you concocted � �outcompete�

You talk about motoric development senses/brain/limb coordination �in modern small child pedagogy this form of development is generally viewed in cognitive terms � how the child reacts to what it does, what is being doing to her and what it senses. Competitive sport therefore is rather looked down on by trained child care workers � since those children who lose sometimes get a sense of negative feeling � and although wining and losing are essentially a part of daily life � it�s generally felt that the kindergarten should be a competition free area � with children of course being encouraged to use their bodies and run � but for all of them to be winners � which actually is what I think you meant. But saying that, just today, I agreed to be present at a kindergarten sports meet- which I hate � what a nasty little hypocrite I am!!! Maybe I should hold a speech on the �Olympic spirit�.

Also I don�t think the Chinese have much to learn about competing with each other � I drive a car here, and can tell you the competition to get your nose in front of the other guy is pretty hot! Haven�t you ever had that kind of problem when you�re trying to get your veggies weighed at the supermarket? I think personal ambition is actually harmed in this over competitive society.

As for flashcards � they aren�t just simple pics to use in �What is this games�. They are essential classroom props � for example in your running games you can use various flashcards � put 3 different cards out in a triangle � run to the apple/banana/orange is a very basic game � expand that to picture of a shop/kindergarten/park � and have a go to game � or walk to/jump to/run to� Flashcards can illustrate stories. We also use flashcards on top of each other � a fish card on top of a water card �where is the fish? You can make fancy flashcards � on our house flashies the windows and doors open. Flashcards are also good when you teach songs � since they illustrate lyrics which otherwise could be learn�t as meaningless sounds. We even draw on flash cards with whiteboard pens � you can wash it off, and play washing games, or draw candles on a cake to play how old are you games � so simple yet so effective.

Flashcards used in an imaginative way can reinforce the modern cognitive approach to promoting small child development � be careful when you knock them!

[Roger]

I see no benefit in delving into pedagogic theories to support one approach or the other; I believe you are misconstruing modern-day forms of competitive market place behaviours typical of China but less typical of many or most other countries.
What you described in the wet market has little to do with competition per se; it is unrestrained selfishness on the part of shoppers, or of people in queues. Ditto for the situation on the roads. What competition is taking place there? Strictly speaking: none! Their antisocial behaviour has no economic urgency at its basis. Rather, these people just don't have the sophistication that we take for granted.

And why should toddlers not learn how to compete with each other? They have nothing to lose because in their reduced and limited intellect to be No. 1 has nothing to do with winning any prizes since they get everything in their lives for free. They don't have the inferiorty complexes that older children can be seen to nurse because of an inimical school setting with false goals, pushy parents and exaggerated aspirations.

Quite categorically, based on my extremely rewarding experiences with kids under 7 years of age there is nothing wrong with competitions and contests. Far from it - they create a stimulating ambience. With a little imagination on the part of the teacher it is easily possible to create non-aggravating competitive situations by putting several children in teams that compete against each other; this too inculcates in kids valuable social and individual qualities - call them "civic virtues"!

The sad fact is that China's schools are not competitive enough and that learners' brains get so blunted by rote-learning and teacher-emulation that competition is avoided by hook and by crook - literally cheating and paying bribes. The term "competition" is abused in the reference to university admissions, which are not, as we all know, "competitive" at all.

Those little bundles of joy can only benefit by learning to discover their own potentials that their own schooling will never lay bare. Thus the kids can at an early stage in their lives find out their true talents and abilities.

I will publish the relevant ISBN and other details of those ENGLISH WONDERLAND VCDs, as requested by some posters who PMed me.

[vikdk]

Roger I had some Chinese friends look at our posts today �including a Child psychologist � they laughed at both of us! - you for ignorance, and me for wasting my time responding to your absurd comments.

So if you really want to be competitive why not be that here � lets get into the spirit of this thread and compete with each other in terms of lesson ideas � so far you�ve told us you run and watch VCD�s - what else do you do?

Heres one of our things � we find many of the standard English kid�s song to be too complicated for the needs of our activities � mainly because we only visit our classes once a week and many of the songs contain words which we don�t want to teach.

A typical example is the okey kokey song � put your right arm out etc etc

We have simplified it to this �
put your one(or two) hand/head/tummy/ leg up,
put your one hand down,
up down up down � and turn around

its very short and simple you can teach it in no time � very suitable for teaching to young kids and can be part of the warm up when you first go into the class � and of course it�s good for getting kids to remember body parts. To make it really funny � the up down bit can be extended for a long period make them do it slowly and quickly � or you can get them to hold one leg up and try and balance before you say down. In one kindy we do a weekly morning exercise � here we often do this song. By the way if your on the plump side like me the tummy up and down bit can also be milked to full effect.

Balls in your court now roger (or any one else who wants to give good ideas) � lets here em.

[china_sk8er]

I taught this song to a kindergarten class of 3-5 year olds. It took me only 30 minutes and they got it.

I want to draw a picture for my teacher--she's so nice.
Connect the dots and trace the lines.
Oh! I got it right.
Good job, very good, not bad, it's O.K.
Connect the dots and trace the lines.
Oh! I got it right.

I want to draw a picture for my mother--she's so nice.
Connect the dots and trace the lines.
Oh! She's smiling bright.
Good job, very good, not bad, it's O.K.
Connect the dots and trace the lines.
Oh! I got it right.