This document discusses aligning the objectives of young learner English programs with parental expectations. It identifies the main reasons parents want their children to learn English as being to communicate in English, broaden their future prospects, and provide necessary tools for the future. To align young learner programs with these objectives, they should focus on classroom language, interactive skills, authentic real-life situations, skills training, a communicative approach with a speaking focus, and using only English. The document also provides a checklist for teachers to ensure their lesson plans incorporate communicative speaking activities, authentic situations, age-appropriate materials, and make English class fun.

1. Aligning Parents’ Objectives
with Young Learner
Programs
SHAY COYNE

2. Background

3. Action Research
 What is my teaching context?
 What are the parental objectives of my young learners?

4. Identifying Parental Objectives
 Why do parents want their children to learn English?

5. Identifying Parental Objectives
 In order to communicate in English
 Broaden their future prospects
 To give them necessary tools for the future
 So they like English
 To help them with English in the school
 Easier to learn a language at a young age
 To learn English as young as possible
 Allow more time to learn English
Why do parents want their children to learn English?
100%
75%
62%
38%12% 12% 12%
0%

6. Identifying Parental Objectives
What expectations do parents have for their children’s English program?
Speak English
Understand English at school
Read English
Write English
Understand spoken English
Enjoy English
Speak English
Understand spoken English
Enjoy English

7. Aligning Objectives to YL Programs
Parental Objective
Communicate in English
To broaden future prospects
Provide necessary tools for the future
To speak English
To understand spoken English
To enjoy English
YL Program
Classroom language, interactive skills
Authentic, real-life situations
Skills training, English for specific purposes (work & study)
Communicative approach, speaking focus
English only, variety of accents and audio material
Age appropriate materials and activities

8. Aligning Objectives to YL Teachers
YL Teachers
Routines, different group interactions
Bring the outside world into the class
Lesson planning, learning to learn
Activities to maximise speaking in class
Speak only English: instructions, grading
Specific training: VYL, YL and Teens
YL Program
Classroom language, interactive skills
Authentic, real-life situations
Skills training, English for specific purposes (work & study)
Communicative approach, speaking focus
English only, variety of accents and audio material
Age appropriate materials and activities

9. YL Teachers’ Checklist
Does My Lesson Plan Include…?
Communicative, speaking activities
Authentic, Real-life Situations
Use only English in class
Staging from receptive to productive skills
Listening activities to help develop comprehension
Age appropriate materials and activities
Fun, dynamic classes
What would the checklist
look like for your YL
teachers?
What do your parents want
from their child’s English
program?
I would invite and encourage you
to find out 

10. Thank you for your time
SHAY COYNE
e: shay.eltconsultant@gmail.com
@shaycoyne
SHAY COYNE