With kindergarten age children, the emphasis for teaching English as a second language should be on fun. Children in this age group might just be starting to learn to recognize letters and words in their own language so the emphasis will be on building vocabulary through speaking, listening, singing and movement.

Approaches to Teaching ESL

Stick to basic concepts. If children are just learning the concept of old and young or days and weeks, they are unlikely to grasp these ideas easily in another language. Use concrete objects and ideas such as colors, animals, numbers, things in the classroom, and action verbs like run, jump and sing; words that have clear definitions and are featured prominently in small children's lives. If you are teaching using English only, these basic concepts will also be easier to teach. Repeat classroom instructions such as "stand up" and "sit down" often as children will soon absorb this into their vocabulary. Don't use grammatical terms or talk about structure.

Use songs and rhymes to help with memory and make the lesson more fun. Action songs such as "Head and Shoulders" or "The Wheels on the Bus" are excellent for this. Make up new songs to tunes the children already know, or add actions to traditional songs. Stick to songs with everyday ideas and language rather than obscure nursery rhymes. Use the same songs again and again in the lessons; this helps children build confidence and feel more secure.

Use lots of pictures and visual aids in the lessons. Use pictures to prompt speech -- guess what picture I have, I like -- and have them chose from a group of pictures. If teaching reading, start with games like dominoes and snap to match words or letters to pictures.

Repeat new vocabulary endlessly. Play drilling games where children say a word and stand up. You can play drilling games where children say new words quietly, then loudly, or while jumping. Children can play a simple game of volleyball where they hit the ball and say a food word at the same time. The idea is to have lots of active games where children have to repeat new words in a fun way.

Have fun in class. At this stage, even more important than learning a list of words is for children to develop a love of learning a different language. If children have a positive experience in their ESL lessons, they will have a positive attitude towards learning languages in the future. Make everything a game. Even just asking questions around the class can be made more fun by passing a ball or making it into a competition; the person who answers correctly can shoot a ball in a hoop, or add a block to a tower.

With kindergarten age children, the emphasis for teaching English as a second language should be on fun. Children in this age group might just be starting to learn to recognize letters and words in their own language so the emphasis will be on building vocabulary through speaking, listening, singing and movement.