This document discusses teaching English to very young learners aged 2.5-4 years old. It outlines some of the difficulties in teaching this age group such as short attention spans and lack of eagerness to learn. Some suggested solutions are establishing classroom routines through songs and rules, using rewards, organizing seating, and arousing children's curiosity. It also stresses the importance of providing a safe, happy and playful learning environment with a relaxed teacher who smiles and engages the children through eye contact and play rather than threats.

1. Teaching English to VERY young learners (2.5 – 4 years old)

2. CONTENT
Teaching English to VERY young learners (2.5 – 4 years old)

3. Teaching Context
Teaching English to VERY young learners (2.5 – 4 years old)

4. CONTENT
Teaching English to VERY young learners (2.5 – 4 years old)

5. DIFFICULTY 1

6. Running, chasing and
yelling - little time for nicely
sitting and learning
What is it?

8. physically exhausted
mentally exhausted

9. DIFFICULTY 1

10. How could I find the solutions?
Sources
of advice

11. DIFFICULTY 1

12. What are the
solutions?

13. Classroom routines

14. What are the
solutions?

15. Routine songs

16. Routine songs

17. What are the
solutions?

18. Classroom rules
be happy
be quiet,
no fighting,
listen,
sit nicely
raise your hand

19. What are the
solutions?

20. Rewards

21. What are the
solutions?

22. Seat organizing
“my own space”

23. Rectangular Blue mat

24. Rectangular Blue mat

25. Color tables and chairs

26. My Circles

27. CONTENT
Teaching English to VERY young learners (2.5 – 4 years old)

28. DIFFICULTY 2

29. No Eagerness
No Happiness
No Joy
No Interest
in their eyes & on their face
What is it?

30. How could I find the solutions?
Sources

31. Reflections

32. Reflections
Write emails to me
“I found myself useless … helpless
… I was not capable of teaching these
learners … this [teaching English to very young
learners] was one of the wrong-est
decisions I have ever made … I want
to give up… I must give up… I
will never teach such classes again

33. Reflections
Closely observe classes
Very sensitive to:
 Facial expressions
 Tones
Characteristics
Reactions

34. What are the
solutions?

35. Arouse their
curiosity

36. •How
mysterious
the bag is!

37. What are the
solutions?

38. Provide safe and happy
learning environment

39. CONTENT
Teaching English to VERY young learners (2.5 – 4 years old)

40. References
• Clean up!. Super Simple Learning. Retrieved from
http://supersimplelearning.com/songs/original-series/one/clean-up/
• Hello. Super Simple Learning. Retrieved from http://supersimplelearning.com/songs/original-
series/two/hello/
• Knock Knock Hello. Super Simple Learning. Retrieved from
http://supersimplelearning.com/songs/original-series/one/knock-knock-hello/
• Make a Circle. Super Simple Learning. Retrieved from
http://supersimplelearning.com/songs/original-series/one/make-a-circle/
• Please Sit Down. Super Simple Learning. Retrieved from
http://supersimplelearning.com/songs/original-series/one/please-sit-down-and-storytime-
music/
• Super Simple Learning. Retrieved from http://supersimplelearning.com/
• Thinh, Ph. (2015, October 18 ). Tr m m non h c ti ng Anh: Chuyên gia giáo d c lênẻ ầ ọ ế ụ
ti ng.ế VTC News Retrieved from http://www.vtc.vn/tre-mam-non-hoc-tieng-anh-chuyen-gia-
giao-duc-len-tieng-d227107.html
• Yen Anh. (2015, October 25). Ti ng Anh m m non: M i n i d y m t ki u. Ng i Laoế ầ ỗ ơ ạ ộ ể ườ
Đ ng. Retrieved fromộ http://nld.com.vn/giao-duc-khoa-hoc/tieng-anh-mam-non-moi-noi-
day-mot-kieu-20151025215319216.htm

41. Hoang Thi Nhat Tam
tamhoang@hcmussh.edu.vn

43. Provide a safe and happy learning
environment
• The kids did not enjoyably learn and play with
“witches” who were always glaring at them, strict
to them, threatening them, shouting at them.
• Always smile and be happy
• Be relaxed
• Be slow in the opening stage
• Giving them engaging, loving and caring eyes
• Communicating with them through the eyes
• Let them know, “we are here to PLAY, not to
learn!”

45. NO WITCHES in HERE!!!

46. Smile and be happy!!!

47. Be relaxed

49. • Giving them engaging, loving and caring eyes
• Communicating with them through the eyes

50. Let them know, “we are here to
PLAY, not to learn!”

51. HOW TO ENGAGETHE
LITTLE LEARNERS IN LEARNING

52. HOW TO ENGAGETHE
LITTLE LEARNERS IN LEARNING
• Arouse their curiosity
• Provide safe and happy learning
environment

54. Song videos from SSL

55. Teaching Context
Textbook
Learners
Learning time
Teacher’s experiences in teaching
Teacher’s characteristics
Three Teaching Assistants

56. Saturday 10:00 12:–
00
Sunday 10:00 –
12:00

57. 5
2012
Some
3 months
Little
Nephew

58. • Patient
• Persevere
• Resilient
• Uni students
• Some (5-12)