Kids' World

The Student Baby

Page 1 | Page 2 | Page 3

Books
Even a small baby can enjoy looking at books. It is easy to find special "baby versions" produced in thicker cardboard and made to be durable. They usually have very simple stories and are visually interesting with bright colors and lots of pictures. The baby will only want to look at the pictures and maybe chew the book. However, they are a great way to teach objects.

As the child gets a little older then "lift the flap" books can be introduced so that they can see what is hiding underneath. These too are often made of durable materials. Familiar books can help the baby to relax and they are wonderful tools for the beginning or the end of a lesson.

Things in the room
Pictures on the wall, colorful friezes, brightly colored rugs, interesting ornaments, tables, chairs, windows etc. The baby can see all of these things and they can all be incorporated into a teaching program. Items such as pictures and windows can be good diversions if the baby is starting to get restless and needs some extra stimulation.

The people in the room
There will probably be at least three people in the room, including the baby. They are perfect for using to teach parts of the body, colors ("she's wearing red shoes") numbers (How many shoes?") and objects. In fact, using the natural resources of people can be a great way to learn. In addition, interactive words and actions such as "thank you" and "good-bye" (with a wave of the hand) can be the ones that stick best in the baby's mind. If everyone in the room is showing them the way then they will be sure to copy.

Singing songs
Music can be so important to a child's learning that it deserves it's own mention. Learning to sing songs is very easy and the baby can soon learn to recognize words and actions. They may not understand the concept of "Twinkle, twinkle, little star", but they will certainly be able to pick up on how to raise their hands up to the sky and wave their fingers to make stars.

There are many songs that encourage the child to move around, count and remember phrases and colors. In addition, singing a song with a child is very interactive and they usually love it. A familiar repertoire of songs will make them feel very at home as they learn.

Language programs
Having said all this, you don't actually have to rely on being creative yourself. Teaching young children has become a specialized business and there are many available resources that do a wonderful job of providing all the materials and ideas you could need. However, when you are selecting a resource, bear in mind the factors above and see if you can find a program that effectively covers the various areas.

LETTERLAND, for example, is an English language phonics system that has been designed by a company in Britain to introduce the sounds and shapes of English. It caters to a wide age range and provides a variety of interesting resources and ideas that will keep children of all ages occupied for a long time! For the very young there are brightly colored, durable teaching materials such as wooden jigsaw puzzles and small picture books with chunky board pages. There are a variety of eye-catching wall friezes and posters to add interest to the room. Not only that, LETTERLAND have produced a selection of musical tapes and videos which hold a baby's attention. Overall, this shows a good example of the type of useful program that can be utilized by teachers of English as a foreign language.

Conclusion
If you can begin to teach a child a new language at a very young age then it's a wonderful start for them in life. The best teachers and supporters are caregivers, but they can help and learn at the same time and feel good themselves. If they are able to speak some of the language too then they can reinforce the child's learning when they are away from the classroom.

Teaching a small baby can be incredibly rewarding for the teacher. At no other stage in life do humans go through rapid development. Not only are you seeing them learn a foreign language, you are watching them grow and develop. It doesn't take long for them to change from a quiet child who sits on a rug to a mobile maniac who try's to test everything in the room, to an older child who actually listens to what you say. Hearing them speak to you in the language you have taught them gives you a wonderful feeling of achievement!

REFERENCES

Newsweek "Your Child" special edition
Spring/summer 1997

Two or More Languages in Early Childhood
Annick De Houwer

Gray Matters. The Developing Brain
Dana Alliance for Brain Initiatives

Mindpower System
Jonathon Hancock

Infant Dual Language Acquisition revisited
Lee Pham

Why should your children be bilingual?
Bet Key Wong

Can preschool children be taught a second language?
Jeanette Vos

Babies learn language lessons before they are taught
Peter Jusczyk and Gary Marcus. Johns Hopkins Medical School

Babies Understand "Baby Talk"
Peter Jusczyk. Johns Hopkins Medical School

Goo-goo, Ga-ga really helps baby learn to talk
Patricia Kuhl, University of Washington

Infants Learn Language
Richard Aslin and Jenny Saffran. University of Rochester

Infant Language Acquisition
Peter Jusczyk and Rochelle Newman

How Infants begin to extract words from speech
Peter Jusczyk

LETTERLAND Homepage

Page 1 | Page 2 | Page 3

(Discuss this topic on our Message Board)

Originally from England, Lynda Watson is currently living in Japan with her Kiwi husband and two elementary school aged children. With a background as a corporate trainer, she has since worked as a writer producing textbooks for use in New Zealand and Australian schools. The arrival of her children helped her develop a keen interest in child development and language learning. Prior to living in Japan, she was an active member of the New Zealand Playcentre system and a president of the Toy Library association. Both of these societies encouraged the concept of "learning through play" which Lynda continues to use in her teaching in Japan.

<<Back Number | Top | Recent Issue>>