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lifan
The game”why” impressed me in last class. We‘ve never been taught by this way in our culture. When Chinese students writing an article they are required able to give reasons and examples within the field but nobody asks the logic relationship between them strictly. I and kay discussed this topic a lot when we talking about GRE writing. It seems we need a clue to find out what capacity that the examiner asking for. Then I whispered to kay when we playing the game in class “See! This is what they want and if we‘ve been trained to consider every example have to related to reason logically one by one from very young, then GRE writing is a cake for us!”
jeong
I'm always concerned about how to make children think logically. But I got a good idea from why game and story telling. At first, I thought the gamed is good for advanced learners, not child. But after class, I could find my way to help children improve logical thinking to write critically using
a story which has good repetitions, causes and effects for some happenings. In order to make it successful, the most important thing is teachers' role. It means teachers have to give a guide line for students to think step by step and critically. If teachers couldn't do it, it would be impossible for students to improve their writing skills. Because good writing is based on critical thinking. Students
never do writing well without criticla thinking practice. To have good practices, first, teachers must look for good materials like stories that you recommended. When they listen or read stories, they can understand the process of the story, causes of the events and the results naturally. Second, teachers try to pull teeth from students step by step using "why". At last, as you mentioned, we have to wait for students to go forward little by little. Thankfully, your class reminded me of who is the best teacher and What kind of teacher I want to be.
Sayaka Kashii
For young children, I think that they need something unique and interesting which stimulates their curiosity. I’m really interested in storytelling for children as teaching language materials. Emotional voice and intonation of narrator will attract children and I realized again that it helps young children for learning language naturally both first and second language. Even adults enjoy storytelling! Actually, I was attracted by the story in this class.
Besides, I learned that teachers have to add exercises according to learners’ age and level. There are a lot of materials and approaches for young children to use such as storytelling, TPR, and ALM. I feel the most important thing for teachers is how to develop and adapt them to the class flexibly.
So Won Seon
I think young learner will like to listen to story especially a little scary story. So I am interested about storytelling. The story teller use same words over and over again to get students attention. Even though they may not know the words they will think about meaning by guessing or looking up the dictionary.
Also storytelling helps students' listening comprehension. For other skills such as writing, speaking and grammar, teacher can make students write down their thinking or speak each other about story after listening story. I hardly recommend this material for yong learner. If the story is more complex, I think we can use it also to adult learner.
Baily Kim
I think game is really good for language learning. When we use game in our language class, students can get various skills of language at the same time. Game contains not only one skill but it is integrated.
I also think storytelling is appropriate in any level of llanguage classes. A lot of repitition and rhythm of the language will attract students. But we have to keep in mind that when we use storytelling in our class, we should make students be familiar with other voices. And in more advanced class students can make story with few pictures.
Students will be attracted by class with game and stroytelling. They will be fully motivated to learn language.
Saelim Song
I think teaching young learner is the hardest parts of teaching. They don't have enough patience to concentrate on what they study for a long time. To make them focus on the class, game is the one of the way to get their attention during the class. If I teach around ten-year-old students like before junior high school, I will use the game which is using TPR such as simon says. My teachers also used to use the game when I was young. It could make the students get some grammar rules also without any pressure about the grammar. I think young learners don't like get a stress from the studying. That's why the teachers should let them know the points of lesson with a variety of ways.
Sachi
The last class was impressed with me for thinking of statement with reasons and examples. As an adult, the way we think is totally logical, however young learners would thought what they think is without any consideration. That’s why I thought it is really hard to see from the young learners’ point of view. Therefore, I realized that I have to keep in mind about how the children are thinking. In addition, it was a good game to teach by making a statement, adding reason and example. After the discussion, I think that they will be able to construct the structure easier than before.
Youngmin Bae
As you mentioned in the class, I highly agree on the power of stories on YC. Children love stories and when they read or listen an interesting story, they are easily assimilated to the main character. They want to say about their ideas and feeling. So, stories can be a good material for developing children's English skills. In the case of YC, when a story connected with songs or chants, the impact becomes greater. My little 4-year-old niece loves five little monkey jumping on the bed. She puts her name into the song when singing and jumping on the bed. Teaching YC English cannot separate with play. Therefore, we should design our intended instruction not to be seen intentional. They can learn language better in natural way when the material is meaningful and interesting to them. How about practicing the skill of story-telling rather than trying to teach children phonics or vocabulary?
This is the activity that I like a lot.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QUgtomV3y4A
Kyungken Lee
Kyungken Lee (Ken)

The advantages of Heuristic Language

I think Heuristic Language plays some important roles in foreign language learning in that it not only helps the beginners recognize the sounds of the language, but also makes them good listeners.

First of all, the language is very easy for the young to understand. That is because a teacher almost all the time tends to frequently utter the sentences in the classroom to pay students’ attention, and direct something (e.g., ‘Look at page 10’, ‘Come to the blackboard’, and so on). In addition, as for the beginners that are unfamiliar with the sound of the target language, repeated heuristic language enables them to get used to the intonation patterns and the sounds of the language.

Second, through Heuristic language, young learners can more easily figure out what they listen to. In fact, the language includes interactional modifications like comprehension check (‘Do you understand’), clarification requests (‘What did you say?’), and confirmation checks (‘Did you say you got five?’), which really help them catch up with a story that a teacher reads.

In sum, I believe that Heuristic Language should be used more frequently for young learners because the students can more easily get it, recognize the foreign language’s sounds more effectively and listen to the materials provided by a teacher more actively.

Source: Teaching Young Language Learners by Annamaria Pinter p 47,48
Kyungken Lee (Ken)

The advantages of Heuristic Language

I think Heuristic Language plays some important roles in foreign language learning in that it not only helps the beginners recognize the sounds of the language, but also makes them good listeners.

First of all, the language is very easy for the young to understand. That is because a teacher almost all the time tends to frequently utter the sentences in the classroom to pay students’ attention, and direct something (e.g., ‘Look at page 10’, ‘Come to the blackboard’, and so on). In addition, as for the beginners that are unfamiliar with the sound of the target language, repeated heuristic language enables them to get used to the intonation patterns and the sounds of the language.

Second, through Heuristic language, young learners can more easily figure out what they listen to. In fact, the language includes interactional modifications like comprehension check (‘Do you understand’), clarification requests (‘What did you say?’), and confirmation checks (‘Did you say you got five?’), which really help them catch up with a story that a teacher reads.

In sum, I believe that Heuristic Language should be used more frequently for young learners because the students can more easily get it, recognize the foreign language’s sounds more effectively and listen to the materials provided by a teacher more actively.

Source: Teaching Young Language Learners by Annamaria Pinter p 47,48
Kyungken Lee (Ken)

The advantages of Heuristic Language

I think Heuristic Language plays some important roles in foreign language learning in that it not only helps the beginners recognize the sounds of the language, but also makes them good listeners.

First of all, the language is very easy for the young to understand. That is because a teacher almost all the time tends to frequently utter the sentences in the classroom to pay students’ attention, and direct something (e.g., ‘Look at page 10’, ‘Come to the blackboard’, and so on). In addition, as for the beginners that are unfamiliar with the sound of the target language, repeated heuristic language enables them to get used to the intonation patterns and the sounds of the language.

Second, through Heuristic language, young learners can more easily figure out what they listen to. In fact, the language includes interactional modifications like comprehension check (‘Do you understand’), clarification requests (‘What did you say?’), and confirmation checks (‘Did you say you got five?’), which really help them catch up with a story that a teacher reads.

In sum, I believe that Heuristic Language should be used more frequently for young learners because the students can more easily get it, recognize the foreign language’s sounds more effectively and listen to the materials provided by a teacher more actively.

Source: Teaching Young Language Learners by Annamaria Pinter p 47,48

yeonju na
This class have been a good time for me to look back on my teaching life. As you know, I have been taught English and other school subjects to young learners, also I studied how to teach young learners especially for elementary school students. I believe that Understanding of young learners habit and characteristic is very important for teacher to teach them before they start to teach their class.

I think that teacher's talk is very crucial for students to learn English in natural way in class setting. They often imitate teacher's pronunciation, accent, and intonation of second Language, so teacher should try to use target language as much as possible ; It is difficulty to use target language every moments in class, because sometimes teacher explain some words or sentences in their mother tongue to students more effective, but teacher consider to use easy words, simple sentences to their students like heuristic language. Students need to figure out words, phrases ,or dialogues to negotiate the meanings with teacher and other students to learn second language in meaningful and authentical.

In addition, story telling is one of the excellent way to teach four skills of language learning. It contains every sources to teach; it is good materials to teach language.
I used some of story books - 'Brown bear, Brown bear what can you see?' , ' Today is monday', ' I am the music man' and so on - with songs that are related with story books when I teach in after school program for 2 or 3 years ago. Students love listening stories , also like to sing those songs. Some students tease me for playing the CD players of those songs.

After this lesson, I think that I want my students expose to stories that are written in English a lot, so I need to try hard to practice to convey stories very dynamic, impressive and exciting for them in forms of changing my voices and using motions and facial expressions.

Nara
The activity of "Why" is very impressive. It's a kind of activity can involve all the students to speak or write. It's not only help the students to do some speaking and writing in the class,but also help the student competent at the class in a positive way.
The "Simon Says" is very effective to the young children. Some times young child doesn't flow their parents' words however they flow simon~~~so interesting. I saw one of the parents in a restaurant ask his child do all the things using"simon says" ,simon says sit down, simon says wash your hands and etc. It really works, unbelievable~~~
Ryu, Hyo Jin
I think story telling was very interesting and impressive way to teach young learners. Especially, making learners think about the flow of the story step by step and by asking next stories is very helpful for children. It can not only attract their interests but also make them creative. The repetitions of the title like 'tiny little bone' can make learners concentrate on the subject of the story and memorize after the class as well. Like these ways, young children can learn English with having fun by listening and speaking. Most of all , we should make a good guide line to lead learners' thoughts actively.
June
I was also impressed by "Why" activity during class. I think this activity can help language learner to write and think in the right way. It will develop student's thinking as critical and logical way. It was almost like debate time. But, the procedure was a little bit confused to me. I mean I didn't know what I'm supposed to focus on between the content and the form of Statement, Reasons, and Examples.
And, I like pictures teacher gave us(MEDIUM MAN). When I have pictures like that, I'd like to imagine before moving on to next page. It was good to me. When I was in ESL, I rarely had the class pictures were given. I think UCI ESL need to use it for student if possible.
Insook
I think that teachers who teach young children need more creative idea than other teachers. Young children cannot pay attention constantly. To get their attention, activities such as storytelling, games, watching videos, physical movements, music, making time consuming craft during the lesson can be good sources for getting attention. But the activities should not be the main focus if the teacher only has limited time or specific goal. For example, repetition for useful words and phrases and guessing conclusion of a story after the activities can make the young learners to gain foreign language easily. So, the teacher for young children has to have continuous observation and exertion what activity is useful, how they improve from the lesson.
se young kim
Young children's difficulty about speaking their mind

Last time class informed me of young children's status. In "WHY" game , we experienced that showing what we exactly think is much more difficulty than we speak.Our brain is complicated and never stops even if we are talking about something.Especially, young children's brains are overflowed with lots of information. They sometimes don't know what they are talking about.Therefore, teachers are modeling the thought process by various activities and examples.

I think that yc and oc are strongly influenced by meaningful ,interesting and authentic materials.It could be a storytelling, comic strips, or using songs,etc.Of course, oc 's materials have to be more complicated than yc's.Teacher's role is to make the students be familiar with personalized dialogue building using practical materials in order to interact with others.Children are mainly concerned with their own understanding,but adults tend to be concerned about the needs of their listener. Therefore, teachers should teach children how to pay attention to what their partner is saying and check the partner's understanding.Your class always reminds me of my childhood.Thank you!

Annie Le
I love the idea of teach young learners with Story Telling. I mean young learners are some how familiar with stories ever since they were babies. Before they even start schooling, at home, they are told many bed time stories by their grandmothers, moms, dads, etc. So the whole idea of stories is not a new concept for them. Story Telling does not make young learners feel like they are actually learning something. It is an indirect way of helping young learners memorize school materials in their subconscious minds.
Without a doubt, I strongly believe that telling stories to children is one of the best way to teach. However, they are challenges that come with it. As teachers, we need to put time and effort in searching for the right stories to tell our learners. We also need to find the appropriate vocabularies, words, grammar rules that can fit our young learners level.
Jack
In the class I’ve learned that what people think sometimes aren’t produced in their writing. Teacher might often wonder why a talented student who is creative in many ways but isn’t able to write a logically and thoughtful essay. I believe after knowing ways to assist student to improve critical thinking skills, the answer has been found and there’s a strategy to narrow the gap. The “Why Game” has really made me understand “thinking is different than what people write.” The game made it crystal clear that students have a lot of creative ideas going on in the head but having a hard time to send the wonderful ideas through the words from writing. The game also demonstrated making decision is also an important thing to do in writing. People are making decision all the time, but in writing they forgot to apply this daily used method or carelessly omitted. Therefore, a great statement will have strong supporting reasons, and it will lead to vivid and convincing examples, and finally a great essay with creative ideas will be the product which impress many people.
teacher collective
Lifan! You found it! We train kids for the GRE at a very early age. But logic and critical thinking are good for any culture.
teacher collective
Jeong: I love your comment: ". It means teachers have to give a guide line for students to think step by step and critically. If teachers couldn't do it, it would be impossible for students to improve their writing skills."
teacher collective
I am glad that you, Sayaka, are getting interested in storytelling. You will find that it is a flexible tool for teaching ALL ages. Start collecting your stories now.
teacher collective
So Won, I like how you thought of various uses for storytelling. It allows for great flexibility in skill and level. Scary stories are great as well. Even yC's can enjoy them IF they are not too scary.
teacher collective
I like what you said about games. "Game contains not only one skill but it is integrated. " integration is so natural for them, it doesn't feel like learning for the student. It feels more like fun.
teacher collective
Saelim, time should be shorter for younger learners. You can break up a lesson in pieces to help with keeping attention. When you are planning, think of how you can naturally break up the lesson in pieces.
teacher collective
I am glad you not only liked the WHY? Game but also you saw how it helps young people visualize logic and how cause and effect works.
teacher collective
I agree with your comments Youngmin. And thank you for the link to the 'Chat Show'. It seems to be another good resource for teachers and students.
teacher collective
Ken, I am glad you see the importance of Heuristic Language. You may have already figured it out but it's 'Chunked Language'. Easier to remember for yC and for the way they see the world.
teacher collective
Thank you for sharing Yeonju, your experience as a teacher of young learners is valuable and I am glad you are willing to share with us your knowledge. I think you would love to take a 'drama' or 'acting' class to help with your storytelling skills. Why not?
teacher collective
Nara, they are both really amazing activities that work really well with young learners. The challenge is to combine Simon Says with a lesson on vocabulary. How would you do it?
teacher collective
Hyo Jin, you are right that asking questions like: "What do you think will happen next?" or "Why do you think the rabbit laughed at the frog?" are great questions for young learners. Prediction and conclusion, Future tense and past tense.
teacher collective
Good suggestions, June. The directions for the Why?Game are hard even for a native speaker to understand. It is almost better to play the game and learn the rules as you go. And I will let the ESL teachers know about using more art and drawing in class. I agree!
teacher collective
You have good advice Insook. How can we still be efficient when we need to teach a certain amount of content? This is the challenge. But I have to ask all teachers...are you doing enough?
teacher collective
Se Young, I am glad you are enjoying the class. It is a good point that you brought up about encouraging children to consider their classmates' feelings. What activities foster this postive behavior?
teacher collective
The challenge Annie, is collecting stories. How do we teachers, with limited time, collect good stories that can be adapted into lessons? I think one answer is sharing with other teachers and pooling our resources.
teacher collective
Jack, one of the biggest problems with writing is that we mistakenly think that what we are thinking about is not only logical, but also can be easily read by the writer. When we write, we need to assume that the audience can't read our minds.
Kay
The 'why' game reminds me of my tough experience with GRE test. Although we can score high in verbal by purely memorizing the vocab, it's impossible to perform well in analytical writing part without mastering the rigorous western logic. Western people are trained to think in a logic and compact pattern since they are little. However, we are careless about logic. What we as asians pursue as a goal for good writing is more about sensibility and beauty of the language. The writing which is the most different and unique,sometimes maybe confusing is what people will admire. We obey some rules that we do not even understand or think thoroughly. That's why we did such a bad work in 'why' game.
yumi kim
I think story telling is very good for teaching young learner. Usually, young children love listening to stories. Also I loved to listen storeis from my mom, teachers and friends. In my school days, in middle of calss, many teachers told stories to make students relaxed. The stories were scary stories or the first love storeis of teachers and so on. They were not only really funny but had lessons so story telling is really good way to teacn young learner. Also, I really like the simon says game. It looks like a just game but students can learn action verbs and they concentrate not to be wrong during the game. I like to use them for my future yound students.
CHAEEON
I think storytelling is a good way to improve English skills. This method can stimulates children's imagination and make it easier for children to start producing English.
In class, what I impressed was storyteller changing voice. I think it is important to speak with an appropriate volume for the children to hear and use vocal expression to clarify the meaning of the text. When teacher use this storytelling method, it is important to use diverse voice, for example speak loudly or silently or whisper and so on.

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