The document discusses the characteristics of effective English for Young Learner Teachers (EYL). It states that EYL teachers must have special skills to support the learning process as young learners are still developing. Specifically, EYL teachers need excellent oral English skills to serve as a strong model, knowledge of child psychology to understand students, and a variety of teaching techniques to engage students. Additionally, EYL teachers should maintain positive attitudes including loving children, thinking like a child, having a sense of humor, and practicing patience.

1. ENGLISH FOR YOUNG LEARNER TEACHERS (EYL)
The role of teachers is a central to the learning process in the early stage of educations.
Therefore, teachers need special skills. As young learners are still learning about their
environment, an EYL teacher has to be active, creative, helpful, open and of course, has
sufficient English proficiency. Helping the children learn and develop becomes more important
than simply teaching the language (Phillips, 1995). If an activity is enjoyable, it will be
memorable.
There are two main characteristics of EYL teachers. Those are:
1. ABILITIES
We may not all brilliant music teachers, but most of us can learn to sing or even play a
musical instrument. All music teachers would agree in any case that everyone can sing,
although perhaps not always in tune. In additions, teachers for young learners need to have
other abilities as follows:
 Having Excellent Oral Fluency. An EYL teacher should command English very well,
particularly oral mastery, including excellent pronunciation and lovely voice. This
requirement is very important as she will become the initial model for children, and
maybe the only model.
 Having Knowledge of Child Psychology. Knowing child Psychology would be a great
asset for an EYL teacher as he/she would be able to handle young children’s problem
with full of understanding. It is much worthy if a teacher is equipped with plenty of
knowledge of child psychology.
 Mastering Various Teaching Techniques. By mastering various teaching techniques, an
EYL teacher will be able to adjust her teaching with the class situation. He/She should
be flexible in teaching because children’s behaviour is unpredictable.
2. ATTITUDES
Beside having some important abilities, an EYL teacher should maintain his/her
attitude. By respecting our students and being realistic about what they can manage at an
individual level, our expectation will be realistic too.
As a teacher, we have to show the students that we like them equally. Children need to
know that the teachers like them.
There are important attitudes that the teachers must have, as follows:
 Loving Children
 Thinking like a child
 Humorous
 Patient
AcadSpeaking_Ach Philip

2. AcadSpeaking_Ach Philip