by Rachelle de Bretagne

Created on: November 16, 2008

Language skills begin at home. A child learns their first words and parents are delighted. The delight doesn't have to stop after the formation of a child's first words. There is a whole new world of discovery to enjoy with your children in their learning of language and this article is written in an attempt to help parents realize the vital role they play in helping their child with English.

*Imitation.
*Learning new words.
*Joining words together.
*Encouraging full sentences.
*Reading out loud.
*Being amazed at what a child learns.
*Celebrating their achievements.

Imitation.

When a child pokes their tongue out at someone in fun, they have learned that from their interaction with mankind. It could be from a television program or other children, though what children do best in their formative years is to imitate. Parents can use this to its best advantage in the teaching of English skills. Pronouncing things properly, and making things clear in the way that you speak does rub off on the children. They learn the manner in which different approach works. Not only do they recognize the difference between anger, sadness and happiness, but they also learn the phrases and words which describe it.

Playing imitation games is great for English language skills, and here it works well if you write words on cards, and play "Repeat after me". Children love imitation and find it fun, although the manner in which you are helping them is that you introduce new vocabulary and show them how to use it. Initially with younger children, words are sufficient, though introduce extra words and teach them to link them together to make sentences.

Introducing new words.

Children will make mistakes though the game should remain a game. Play fun allows them to make mistakes, though repeating the sentences that they construct, they will begin to learn which ones work and which ones do not. Introduce "doing" words or verbs, and let them try and guess some more. The activity of a child will be such that they will be familiar with words like "play" or "sleep", "wake up" or "dress". These will be words they hear every day. Introducing mime into a game of things people do, the child is enthused and will guess the verb. When you discover a new one, write a card and let them introduce this into a new sentence.

At an early age, their sense of achievement helps to give them confidence. You can introduce words with several syllables and see how they get on with those. You may actually be surprised at what new

• 1
• 2
• 3
• Next Page >>