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Teaching EFL in a KindergartenTeaching preschool children poses the problem of firstly how to hold the attention of a child that is so young and secondly how to teach them anything of meaning. The age of teaching kindergarten children can range from any age from two to seven depending on the country. Children of a very young age are very receptive to a new language and can stand them in great stead for the future but teaching children of such a young age can be very daunting to a new teacher. Ideally class sizes should be small for teaching children of this age but a spacious airy room will help. Sitting on the carpet with the children in front will seem less intermediating for the children. Bright visual stimulates such as large posters and objects will create interest for the children and become teaching points. Small children will always respond if they find something amusing, exciting or funny, the saying ?do it again? rings true of any family with young children. So when designing lesson plans for kindergartens the focus needs to be on an activity or interaction, rather than memorization or rules. Learning by doing is key. So what material should be used to teach young children? Children will engage in what is relevant in their lives. Teaching children aged two to five from a text book, may not be appropriate and not hold their interest. Children of that age will warm and take an interest in material that they may have in their home. For example for the engage part of a lesson the tutor may want to test or teach the children to say ?hello how are you, my name is........?, this could either be done through song or through a toy such as a puppet were the children shake hands with the puppet. Repeating is also key, the children will hopefully find this fun and repeat and till it is memorized. Songs can also be used as a very effective way of learning vocabulary, alphabet or sayings. The head and shoulders song for example is a very effective way of learning parts of the body. Children?s songs have to be selected carefully, songs such as twinkle, twinkle little star, may be a great first piece to play on the piano, but contain quite complicated words for young children Painting or colouring is also a good way of engaging young children colouring in various object using different colours can make an effective listening exercise. Flash cards are also a great way of encouraging speaking or prompting vocabulary as well as number cards which children can learn from. Simple poems, comics and books are also an essential part of stimulating reading Small children must always remain active; the learning must incorporate standing up sitting down, touching things, fetching things, miming sounds and words Games such as hangman, snakes and ladders are a great way of teaching children basic numbers and alphabet. All of these learning materials will help in stimulating young children, though the most important aspect of teaching young children is the rapport the children have with the teacher. Teaching the children at the same eye level as the children , making eye contact, acknowledging and praising participation, throwing your voice, communicating with your body as well as your mouth, getting excited and being funny will mean the children will never lose interest and regain more information.
