Effective Language Acquisition Among Children

Modern languages in primary education

I hold a few years of experience in teaching languages to primary school aged pupils in public and private teaching, and support the view that the learning of a first foreign language should be made available to everyone from the age of seven. It has always been remarked that children are able to absorb, retain and recall knowledge much easier than adults, not least because they have fewer reservations in connection with their own ability to learn and are more open when pursuing their natural curiosities. It is thus my belief that the introduction of modern language learning in primary education, either in school or as an extra-curricular activity, would ensure that children are equipped with knowledge of the functional use of a foreign language, so as to be able to develop a high level of communication than of which many language learners are presently capable.

How does a teacher relationship with children benefit their learning?

Many would consider the establishment of a friendly and informal environment of trust through openness, respect, two-way communication and face-to-face contact with the children to be a key factor in the learning process. It is for that reason that my preference is to speak on first name terms, display an interest in the personal lives of the children, by speaking to them outside the classroom, and strive to give them the opportunity to express themselves both practically and emotionally. The well-being of children is a primary concern for Lingua Genesis and the company seeks to guarantee their safety, enjoyment and motivation in the learning process, through stimulating interaction with a huge variety of inventive resources and group activities.

Family responsibilities

It is important also to embrace the need for parental involvement in every child's academic development and social potential, as a means of encouraging them to nurture skills for life-long learning and laying down the foundation for positive values towards achievement outside the four walls of the classroom. Hence, I have always maintained contact with parents by e-mail to update them on their child's progress and send to them hard copies of resources which offer suggestions for a broad range of differentiated learning activities. Moreover, these resources can be used by parents to assess their child's learning progress and maybe also help them to create new learning ideas to further develop their knowledge.

How do the techniques of Lingua Genesis cater for the needs of all children?

As mentioned above, each child is worthy of respect and Lingua Genesis is meticulous in its aim to create an environment of mutual trust in which self-esteem and involvement are key to effective learning. As a teacher, I understand that some children are very keen to explore, whereas others prefer to sit back and observe, and so it is vital, in that respect, to promote an understanding of the personal experiences of the children through the competent use of effective questioning, which encourages them to foster an awareness of their own social differences and work cooperatively towards achieving common goals. In any case, each child has the potential to be creative and so it is always beneficial to give them the reigns to think freely with confidence and make any suggestions as regards how classroom activities may be tailored to create a stimulating and engaging learning process in which they are inspired to achieve. Thus, a reward system as a means of celebrating learning and team work ability, as well enhancing each individual's self-perception and the desire to give of their best, acts as an incentive.