Teaching Modern Languages To Young Learners

This book will develop readers' understanding of children are being taught a foreign language.

This book is targeted at modern languages teachers of primary school children and focuses on curricula and syllabi, as well as on teaching materials and methodology. The papers look into issues related to both pre- and in-service teacher education, innovative curriculum and syllabus design in tertiary education and lower primary schools, and how new ideas can be implemented at national and classroom levels. The first six papers focus on teacher education curricula and teacher development in pre-service and in-service programs, whereas the last four papers examine curricula, teaching materials and projects in primary schools.--Publisher's description.

There is a growing interest in teaching languages to young children. This publication brings together papers from 18 countries. It gives a cross section of major achievements and problem areas as well as an insight into research issues.

Modern languages are offered to young learners at an increasingly early age in many countries; yet few publications have focused on what is available to children in different contexts. This volume fills this gap by documenting the state-of-the-art in researching young language learners using a variety of research methods. It demonstrates how young children progress and benefit from an early exposure to modern languages in different educational contexts, and how affective, cognitive, social, linguistic and classroom-related factors interact in the processes. A special strength is the range of languages: although English is the most widely learnt language, chapters focus on various target languages: Croatian, French, English, German, Italian, Spanish and Ukrainian and the contexts include China, Croatia, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Norway, Poland, the Ukraine, and the United Kingdom.

Designed as a text to support student teachers in training, this book focuses on the key skills of teaching modern foreign languages. The practical focus of the book is underpinned by a theoretical perspective including ample opportunities for reflection. Account is taken of national statutory frameworks. The book aims to assist student teachers in developing a personal approach to modern foreign languages teaching and to choose the most effective and appropriate methods to help pupils gain relevant knowledge, skills and understanding. For mentors and tutors working with student teachers this book provides an overview of the areas covered by student teachers during their course of initial teacher education. Chapters cover, for instance: the teaching of grammar and cultural awareness assessment the use of the target language for instruction and interaction the use of new technologies in the classroom. Examples are given in French, German and Spanish, but most are transferable to other languages.

Issues facing schools, teachers, and policy-makers in the expansion of elementary school instruction in modern second languages are discussed, particularly in the context of Scotland's educational system. An introductory chapter defines key terminology, the transition from pilot programs to institutionalization, and discusses briefly the distinction between "second" and "foreign" languages. The second chapter outlines five different instructional approaches and offers examples of foreign language initiatives in Scotland and elsewhere in the United Kingdom (UK), Europe, and some other countries. Objectives and difficulties encountered are examined. Several concepts in second language learning and use are considered in the third chapter, including use of language for real communication, language as a dynamic system of rules and strategies, communicative competence, "language acquisition" versus "language learning," progression of skills, and proficiency. In chapter four, evidence of instructional outcomes from UK elementary schools, immersion research, research on specific aspects of second language teaching (intensive teaching, first-language literacy, and second-to-first language transfer), and learner age is offered. A final chapter draws conclusions concerning starting age, implications of language policy for elementary language teaching, choice of approach, teacher qualifications, and implications for secondary education. (MSE)

Grade level: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, k, p, e, i, t.

This book looks at the many ways in which languages can be taught, and at case studies that highlight the practical methods that will help teachers get the best results.