THEORIES OF TEACHING ENGLISH TO YOUNG LEARNERS

概要

This course is for students who want to learn the general basics of teaching English to young learners. The course will cover the foundational theories and practical approaches essential for effective second language education for young learners. Students will learn about the cognitive and linguistic development of young learners, language acquisition theories, and their applicability to teaching English as a second language to young learners. Students will also experience, practice, and demonstrate activities and tasks particularly used in children's English classes. Students will discuss why and how such activities and tasks are necessary and effective for children of different ages and stages of development. Students will have opportunities to visit Japanese schools in-person or online as extracurricular events to observe classes and conduct communicative teaching activities with children. This class is related to PRACTICUM IN TEACHING ENGLISH TO YOUNG LEARNERS 1. Students are strongly encouraged to take both courses for a better understanding of teaching young learners.

目標

In this course, students will learn the general theories of teaching English to young learners. Students will cover the foundational theories and practical approaches essential for effective language teaching/learning of young learners. Students will learn about the characteristics of young learners, based on their cognitive and linguistic development, that strongly affect children’s foreign language teaching/learning methodology. They will also review first and second language acquisition theories, considering their applicability to teaching English as a second language to young learners. Students will also experience, practice, and demonstrate activities and tasks notably used in children’s English classes. Students will discuss why and how such activities and tasks are necessary and effective for children of different ages and stages of development. Students will have opportunities to visit Japanese schools in-person or online as extracurricular events to observe classes and conduct communicative teaching activities with children.

授業外の学習

Students are required to read articles, conduct research, and present on topics related to theories and practical methods of teaching English to young learners. Based on theoretical backgrounds learned, students must design and practice language teaching/learning activities and tasks mainly used in young learners' English classes and be prepared to demonstrate them as teachers. Students are strongly recommended to participate in the extracurricular events coordinated by the instructor related to teaching English to children. [e.g., observation of kindergarten/ nursery/ elementary school English lessons, voluntary English lessons in kindergarten/ nursery/ elementary school, English day camp, International festival, English role-play events.] The events will be in-person or online. Information on such events will be provided as the program develops.

所要時間: At least 190 minutes per lecture