Early education experts: 0 to 3 years old is the key period of language training.
"0 to 3 years old is a critical period for language training." Yang Jian, a well-known early education expert and professor in China and former director of the Children's Development Research Center of Wuhan University, said that it is very important to expose children to second languages such as English at this stage. Newborns are born with "language acquisition devices". The working principle of this "device" is to input what they hear into the subconscious, and then analyze and integrate it through the brain before they can say it.
"So in the language accumulation period before 1 year old, in order to let the baby develop the subconscious ability, parents should input as many words and sentences as possible to the baby. Language input is not limited to listening to the baby, but also using various senses to make the baby feel the connection between pronunciation and semantics. Parents don't have to be surprised when the baby starts talking. This is accumulation, not natural, but learned from the surrounding environment.
Professor Yang Jian told reporters that exposing children to English is not to send them to English training classes and sit in chairs to learn English from teachers, but to give them a sense of English by listening to recordings or some short films, English songs and stories. This sense of language acquisition, compared with no such acquisition, is completely out of the same class when learning a second language in the future.
Many parents will wonder: Can a child be understood at such a young age? Professor Emperor Wen of Sui said that early education can "play the lute to a cow", and there is almost nothing for a child to learn before teaching, because at this time, he knows almost nothing. The key is to input information in time and form an impression in the brain. For example, when a child calls "mom" for the first time, all mothers are extremely excited. But at this moment, does your child understand the word "mom"? Is the baby thinking: I call you mom because I know you are the one who gave birth to me?
Head of early education institutions: Parents with poor English can also cultivate "English Niu Wa"
"None of us can speak English, and there is a lack of English atmosphere at home. How can we enlighten children with early English? "
"I studied English when I was a student, but I almost forgot that my pronunciation was poor. Will teaching children English mislead them? "
David, head of Gymboree Early Education Center, said that parents' English level does not determine their children's English level. As long as parents have attended junior high school and have basic knowledge of English, they can still teach English Niu Wa. In the absence of English atmosphere and environment, children can learn English well through the following five steps.
1. Before 0-3 years old, especially before 1 year old, let children listen to English songs and stories more. Parents can listen to their children and pat them gently according to the rhythm, and at the same time, they can do some kind and expressive actions.
2. With a broad basis of language "input", from 1 year and a half, from simple listening to the combination of pronunciation and semantics, we can start with things around us and point to bowls, chopsticks, tables, chairs and so on. And read it to the children in English. We can also buy some English cards, teach them, or play some simple English games with them. If parents' English level is poor, they can buy a reading pen.
3. Accompany children to read classic pure English picture books to stimulate their imagination, such as Eric Carr's works From Head to Foot, Very Hungry Caterpillar, Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See, etc. These classic English picture books all have background music and full of rhythm. If children are not interested in reading picture books, parents can play these background music for their children. When children are familiar with it, they will read picture books with their children and have a strong interest.
4. Let children master the natural spelling method, that is, by directly learning the pronunciation rules of 26 letters and letter combinations in words, establish the perception of letters and letter combinations and pronunciation, so as to achieve the magical learning effect of "seeing the pronunciation of words, listening to sounds and distinguishing words".
Finally, let children learn to read independently and develop the habit of reading independently. At this time, it is necessary to provide children with a lot of reading materials.
David stressed that these five steps need to be carried out in a relaxed and playful way, and children should not be burdened with too much pressure, otherwise their interest in English will be stifled. David's method has been well verified by his son Onion, who is now over 5 years old and his English level is equivalent to that of a second-grade American elementary school student.
Learning English begins in kindergarten.
I think it is best for children to learn English from kindergarten. 3-6 years old is the sensitive period of children's language. At this time, learning is easier for children to accept and can get twice the result with half the effort. Moreover, I study English as a speech and a language, not as a subject, so there is no pressure to study.
Encourage children to participate in various English competitions.
Zhu Zhemin is the runner-up in Zhuzhou Division of this year's CCTV "Star of Hope" English Style Competition. Later, he won the special prize of children's group in the finals of Hunan Division and the third prize in the national finals. This year, I also participated in the third "Happy Children's Voice" competition in Zhuzhou City on 20 14 and won the championship. I encourage my child to participate in various activities, especially in English, because it can make him more active, win awards and make him more confident.
My original intention of letting my children learn English well is actually very simple: the world is very big and small, so it is not difficult to go abroad. As a language tool, English is the first step to go abroad, and it is also an essential language tool for children's generation. But because of poor English, I can only play some English stories to my children often. This is a good method, and it is best to stick to it every day.
When Zhu Zhemin was four and a half years old, I enrolled him in an English training class and took classes twice a week. In order to stimulate his interest in English, I will consciously guide my children to be full of expectations for English classes. "Wow, it's time for English class again. I am so happy! " Every time he said this, Zhu Zhemin would show a happy expression.
Learning English means playing games, and children enjoy it.
Zhu Zhemin's greatest hobby is being an "English teacher". There is a blackboard at home. We are students. He will write down what he has learned in each class on the blackboard and then teach us to read. He enjoys it, which also consolidates what he has learned in class and improves learning efficiency. Besides, he also loves acting, and his home is his stage. Whenever a guest comes, he will present a "wonderful program". These programs are written and directed by himself, and the scenery and lighting are indispensable. Every performance is sloppy. He will decorate his home like a stage with balloons and colored lights, and then he will perform on the stage. This is his daily game, and he enjoys it.