ESL for 3 yr olds in an english speaking preschool program
Posted: Mon Jun 26, 2006 3:51 am
Hello! I am a prek teacher in a childcare center. Our center just enrolled two new students in our 3's preschool classroom who are non-english speaking. One child speaks Russian and the other speaks Chinese. I was wondering if anyone can offer any advice or point me in the direction of good resources for helping these children learn english and integrate into an english speaking classroom. This is a first for our center which has many bi-lingual children enrolled.
A little background:
The russian speaking boy seems to be transitioning well. His parents and grandparents all speak english as well as russian so we have reason to believe he understands most english, but simply does not/will not speak it (this opinion is shared by his family). He has made some friends and is beginning to slowly use english words and phrases on his own.
The chinese speaking girl is having a much harder time. While her parents speak english, they have not exposed her to a lot of english. Her grandparents, who are often caregivers do not speak english. She has expressed to her mom that she is very frustrated and angry that we can't understand her. In class she is often scared and homesick (this is also her first experience in a childcare setting). She will interact and play with teachers if they work one on one with her, but is weary of the other children. She is beginning to repeat single words that teachers try to get her to repeat and associates them with pictures or objects (such as pointing to a ladybug and saying "ladybug").
Both children are 3. We have been learning key words in the children's native languages to help them feel safe and to learn the routines and such, but both sets of parents are greatly encouraging us to help the children acquire English and any advice as to the best ways to get started in that direction, or ways to integrate ESL into a typical, busy 3 year old preschool class would be greatly helpful. The children are just 2 of a class of 17. Also, it might be helpful to note that our center uses an emergent curriculm approach.
A little background:
The russian speaking boy seems to be transitioning well. His parents and grandparents all speak english as well as russian so we have reason to believe he understands most english, but simply does not/will not speak it (this opinion is shared by his family). He has made some friends and is beginning to slowly use english words and phrases on his own.
The chinese speaking girl is having a much harder time. While her parents speak english, they have not exposed her to a lot of english. Her grandparents, who are often caregivers do not speak english. She has expressed to her mom that she is very frustrated and angry that we can't understand her. In class she is often scared and homesick (this is also her first experience in a childcare setting). She will interact and play with teachers if they work one on one with her, but is weary of the other children. She is beginning to repeat single words that teachers try to get her to repeat and associates them with pictures or objects (such as pointing to a ladybug and saying "ladybug").
Both children are 3. We have been learning key words in the children's native languages to help them feel safe and to learn the routines and such, but both sets of parents are greatly encouraging us to help the children acquire English and any advice as to the best ways to get started in that direction, or ways to integrate ESL into a typical, busy 3 year old preschool class would be greatly helpful. The children are just 2 of a class of 17. Also, it might be helpful to note that our center uses an emergent curriculm approach.