Teaching Young Learners

COURSE DESCRIPTION, 2017

Lecturer: PaedDr. Pusks Andrea, PhD.

Office: 208
E-mail: puskasa@ujs.sk, puskasandrea142@gmail.com
Form: a 90-minute seminar

COURSE OBJECTIVES:
The purpose of this methodology course is to make students familiar with the basic techniques and
effective activities of teaching English as a foreign language to young learners. The course provides both
a theoretical framework and practical guidance for teaching young language learners.

TENTATIVE SYLLABUS
15 Feb Introduction to the course
22 Feb The young language learner. Approaches to teaching young learners.
1 March Very young learners. Art and craft, songs and games. Nursery rhymes and riddles.
8 March Coursebooks for the primary classroom. Teaching vocabulary to young learners.
15 March Teaching grammar. Approaches to teaching grammar to young learners.
22 March Half-term test.
29 March Learning the spoken language. Using stories and fairy tales.
5 April Using games with young learners. Types of games.
12 April Assessment and language learning with young learners. General rules for assessment.
19 April Web-based applications, using the Internet and online practice in the young learners
classroom.
26 April Project work with young learners. Cooperative learning. Drama techniques.
3 May End-of-term test.
10 May Concluding thoughts

ASSESSMENT BASED ON:

2 tests a half-term and an end-of-term test; you must reach at least 50% on average (from the two),
otherwise you get an Fx in AIS; after this you have 2 more opportunities to retake the test during the
exam period.
active participation during lessons no more than 2 absences
a portfolio including 20 activities for young learners (name and description of each activity, the
age and level of the target group, the source of the activity title of book, website, etc., list of all
handouts and extra materials + flashcards, games, texts, cards, etc. necessary to teach the activity). Final
deadline: 3 May 2017
you have to do micro-teaching basic criteria:
present 3 activities for young learners
all activities must address the same target group, must be playful and suitable for the
needs of your target group;
the activities should be interactive using several visuals, worksheets, music, etc.
before starting micro-teaching you must hand in the description of the activities together
with all handouts/cards/pictures/etc. that go with the tasks/exercises/activities
you mustnt use any outdated approaches to teaching English to young learners (e.g.
grammar translation method, frontal teaching, read aloud a one-page long text, etc.). If
you do, 10% will be subtracted from your final result
RECOMMENDED LITERATURE:
PUSKS, Andrea. 2016. The Challenges and Practices of Teaching Young Learners. Komrno: J. Selye
University.
MALEY, Allan Alan DUFF. 2004. Drama Techniques in Language Learning. Cambridge University
Press.
PHILLIPS, S. 1999. Drama with Children. Oxford University Press.
WESELY, Pam. 1994. The Games Book. Yale Drama Children's Theater.
CAMERON, Lynne. 2001. Teaching Languages to Young Learners. Cambridge University Press.
HALLIWELL, Susan. 1992. Teaching English in the Primary Classroom. Harlow: Longman.
Wendy A. Scott Lisbeth H. Ytreberg. 1990. Teaching English to Children. Harlow: Longman.
REILLY, Vanessa Sheila M. WARD. 1997. Very Young Learners. Oxford University Press.
PHILIPS, Sarah. 1993. Young Learners. Oxford University Press.
McKAY, Penny Jenni, Guse. 2007. Five-Minute Activities for Young Learners. Cambridge University
Press.
WRIGHT, Andrew. 2008. Storytelling with Children. Oxford University Press.
LEWIS, Gordon Hans, MOL. 2009. Grammar for Young Learners. Oxford University Press.
LEWIS, Gordon. 1999. Games for Children. Oxford University Press.

Feel free to contact me if you have any questions!