Techniques and principles of teaching English to young learners
Techniques and principles of teaching English to young learners

Summary/Abstract: Recently, teaching English to young learners has gained close attention of many researchers. This is not a coincidence since the age of learners starting foreign language classes has been significantly lowered with English classes being a routine in almost all European preschools. The article entitled “Techniques and principles of teaching English to young learners” focuses on the most effective techniques and principles of teaching children. According to Piaget’s theory of cognitive development, preschool children are in the preoperational cognitive stage, which puts limitations when it comes to their learning abilities. Teachers working with preschool children should remember that small children are characterized by egocentric intuitive intelligence and a lack of logical thinking. As a result, they cannot grasp abstract concepts, but only concrete objects or physical situations. With that in mind, foreign language teachers should place the primary focus of their lessons on communication. Appealing to children's lively nature, Total Physical Response seems to be a perfect tool to be introduced in the foreign language classroom. What is more, Gardner's Theory of Multiple Intelligences put in practice allows for treating every student individually, catering for different learning styles and preferences. The combination of appropriate teaching techniques and priciples set in the friendly environment and accompanied by a good dose of fun provided by carefully chosen didactic materials seems to be the key to success. The authors prove that teaching young learners can be a real pleasure once the ESL teacher creates lesson plans that suit children's maturity level and focus on what will help them excel in English.

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