Abstract
The global trend of learning English as an L2 in the early years is identifiable in Hong Kong. Cognitively immature pre-primary learners face the dual challenges of coping with formal learning in low L2 exposure contexts. This chapter argues for a specific approach that better fits the learning characteristics and abilities of pre-primary learners who learn an L2 differently from that of older learners. The approach recommends the use of informal instructional strategies like using quality stories together with rich vocabulary activities in the form of games and songs for vocabulary learning and phonological awareness which are essential building blocks for L2 literacy skills. Evidence-based examples from research are cited to show their effect on very young learners’ motivation and interest in learning an L2.
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Appendices
Appendix 1
An example lesson integrating the activities of story, songs, and games for vocabulary learning.
Picture book used | From Head to Toe by Eric Carle |
Source link | https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B3iVRZPQcM-qSDREYWlQc2lwU3M/view?usp=sharing |
Age level | 4–5 years old (non-native speakers) |
Duration | 30 minutes |
Objectives | Children are able to: 1. Understand the commands (e.g., turn your head) and act them out (Listening) 2. Give commands to their peer in the game “Teacher says” (Speaking) 3. Match the correct word card to the body parts of the animal (Reading) |
Activities | 1. Stories 2. Songs 3. Games |
Two sets of Target/magic Words to be learnt | 1. body parts (head, shoulders, knee, chest) 2. body actions (turn, raise, bend, thump) |
Time | 30 minutes |
Activities | Activity 1: Story reading (10 minutes) Teacher shows the story “From head to Toe” to children. Teacher introduces the author and front cover of the book and tell the story with actions, pause to explain the target words with actions when they appear in the story Activity 2: Song singing (5 minutes) Teacher plays the song with the book twice. Children listen to it for the first time and imitate the action of the animal at the second time Activity 3: Game: Teacher says (5 minutes) Round 1: Teacher calls out a command (e.g., Teacher says turn your head). Children only do the action if the teacher says “teacher says……” T: Teacher says turn your head. C: (Turn their head) T: Turn your head C: (Stand still) Round 2: Teacher exchange role with children. Children can take the lead. Children call out a command (e.g., Turn your head) and ask the teacher whether he/she can do it. Teacher has to reply and do the action C: Turn your head, can you do it? T: I can do it (and turn his/her head) Activity 4: Whispering game (5 minutes) Teacher pass on the instructions to the children who are lined up in two lines. The last one of each line who do the action correctly will be the winner T: Turn your head (thump your chest, raise your shoulders etc.) Activity 5: Matching game (5 minutes) Teacher prepares a set of words of the different parts of the body (e.g., head, shoulders, knees, chest) and explain to children the meaning of the word card by putting them next to the body parts of a big paper Gorilla. Children are divided into teams and have to search for the right card and put it on to big paper Gorilla. Teams who get most correct matches are winners |
Appendix 2
A brief resource list of stories, songs, and games for pre-primary level
| Â | Stories |
|---|---|
1 | Name of book: The Very Hungry Caterpillar Author: Eric Carle Publisher and Publication date: World Publishing Company. June 3, 1969 Youtube link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PbLPMjxUXmI |
2 | Name of book: From Head to Toe Author: Eric Carle Publisher and Publication date: HarperFestival. March 27, 1999 Youtube link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XnoSD3TPz1o |
3 | Name of book: The Listening Walk Author: Paul Showers Publisher and Publication date: HarperCollins. January 28, 1993 Youtube link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BLs4r8lHUSg |
4 | Name of book: Pete the Cat Author: Eric Litwin and James Dean Publisher and Publication date: HarperCollins. May 8, 2014 Youtube link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H8iU1svFU8o |
5 | Name of book: Dear Zoo Author: Rod Campbell Publisher and Publication date: Macmillan. July 2, 2010 Youtube link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rudDGRQ9QGA |
| Â | Songs |
|---|---|
1 | The Very Hungry Caterpillar |
2 | From Head to Toe |
3 | Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes |
5 | Dear Zoo |
Useful Web site for more songs: Super Simple Songs | |
| Â | Games |
|---|---|
1 | Whispering game (“Whispers”) |
2 | Tic Tac Toe |
3 | The round the robin game https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GTiSngHXNlw (couldn’t find a proper one) |
4 | Bingo game |
6 | Matching game |
Useful Web site for worksheets for games: | |
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Ng, M.L. (2019). Second Language Literacy Instruction for Pre-primary Learners in Hong Kong: Using Stories, Songs, and Games. In: Reynolds, B.L., Teng, M.F. (eds) English Literacy Instruction for Chinese Speakers. Palgrave Macmillan, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-13-6653-6_4
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-13-6653-6_4
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