English in Early Childhood: Language Learning and Development

Along this week, we reviewed about how to talk to young children, and how their social and emotional well-being is so closely linked to their ability to communicate.
There was a video conversation on this week in which educators answered some of the questions that we have been asking about the discussion topic of the week.

I could conclude after watching the video that practitioners` role in the context of the well-being of children is based on the assumption. Health -illness is a dynamic and socially determined process inside and outside the School, it is party the responsibility of parents and education. Recognizing that all aspects of this diversity of relationships must be considered in the development of communication skills. Emotional knowledge is fundamental to the child's adjustment favoring the construction of positive social relationship School success, impulsive control and self-confidence.
There were a lot of videos along this week. Some of the topics they talked about were instinct an external motivation, which is very important for children in order to keep the desire of learning. There was also mentioned something about praising children and I think they need to feel and see that you appreciate the effort they've put it. Afterall, we should be friends and at the same level. So, I think we should find a way to carry the external and internal motivation along together.
On the other hand, knowing how to talk to children is very important. We should be careful with the words that come out from our mouth because this can affect their behavior, learning and also their self-esteem. For example, if we call a child ‘naughty’, and he hear it often enough, it almost becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy. And the child starts to believe I'm a naughty person. And then, that becomes an excuse for behaviors. As teachers, we should avoid labelling our students, even if it is in a positive or negative way. But what we could do is labelling the action as good or bad, in this way the child will think that he can change the action that he is doing. We need to empower children so that they know that they are in control of their own actions.

This is my first online training that I have participated in learning with FutureLearn. I enrolled due to the lockdown as the school nursery where I work is obviously closed. I have thoroughly enjoyed working with other students and reading their comments and sharing knowledge with others and hearing from our two first class educators and presenters Sheona and Tracey every week. I have also enjoyed listening to other professionals and speakers during the six weeks. I also enjoyed Learning Time with Timmy, showing an insight into a class of young Spanish children learning English with their teacher. The course was very interesting and a good refresher in parts. I completely agree that play is essential to learning and that practitioners should tune into children's interests and build on forming positive relationships with the child, parents and other professionals involved. There have been many references to resources, videos, books, articles which I am very grateful for and have and will continue to resource these. Having now completed the course, it would have been lovely to have received a certificate but I can create one myself to say that I have completed the six week course. As I was working from home and working in a school hub looking after key worker's children, I did fall behind with regard to the timing of the weeks but fully appreciated the 14 day extension at the end of the 6 weeks to catch up. I have completely enjoyed this course as I am working with a child at the nursery whose first language is not English and found parts of the course very beneficial to me. I fully intend enrolling on another course run by FutureLearn as I feel I have completely extended and enhanced my knowledge and understanding on English in Early Childhood - Language, Learning and Development. Many thanks to all speakers, presenters, educators, parents and of course to Sheona and Tracey for their weekly support and encouragement. Take care and thank you. Carol Eddie

At the beginning of this course, I was wary about what I would learn that would be "new" to me. Having worked with 2-3 year old's for around 7 years and now working in a very multi-cultural setting in England where I would say at least 70% of our children do not have English as a first language, I was apprehensive that there would be new material that I could take from this course.

However, I was very pleasantly surprised. I was not filled with "new" information, but I was reminded of knowledge that had been pushed to the bottom of my priorities. This course really re-lit the passion I once had for supporting young children and gave me some fantastic ideas to implement in the setting. I have used the material from this course as teaching points for the staff team and to lead discussions in positive changes we can make to develop our children's skills, in a way that works for them.

This course is not just based for children learning English, but for all young children (especially 2-3 year olds) and provides very detailed information, reading materials and interviews to support any aspect of working with young children.

I would highly recommend this course to any practitioner and in fact will be looking at adding this course to our induction pack for new staff/ volunteers/ work experience placements.

Thank you so much to the British Council for sharing this course with us, for free too!

The course is well organised and structured in a very simple manner in such a way that even the learning content is intensive most of the participants can understand and able to do the activities as required. Apart from the administration of the course, the content itself is very relevant and helpful in teaching non-native learners. It is also well thought of because it is teaching how children develop and how they learn in general. Some of the crucial point that parents and teachers need to understand as nurtured in this course is that children are unique and learn at a different pace. However, it should be considered that children learn through play-based activities because they are playful by nature and active. And when they are learning through play and engage, learning takes place effortlessly. In addition, children are language acquirer and they pick the language and use it naturally but they need to be motivated. Children need to be praised moderately and their internal motivation should be developed and encouraged. In addition the environment should be resourced richly for effective learning and should not speak to the children but speaking with the children. In other words there should be an exchange of words.

The course "English in Early Childhood: Language Learning and Development" covers essential issues of young children learning: the importance of playing in learning; the ways of motivating, involving, praizing children; developing language in context; the ways of providing friendly invironment and opportunities for young children's learning; ways of assessing children's learning.
We could get the advice of experienced trainers, practitioners and parents and enjoy the use of interesting resources, which were kindly shared with us.
Much what have been discussed in the course I have already known. But,at the same time, I have got to know many new things about the pecularities of children's development, about the importance of "silent period" in children's language learning and the ways of assessing children's progress.
So, the time, spent on the course issues, was both enjoyable and useful. I appreciate a lot the work of the course trainers and I'm going to use the gained knowledge and materials in my practice

I've been teaching children aged 2- 6 for the past 5 years in Hong Kong and Beijing, and I think this course was very informative and I definitely learned a few new things. However, I would have liked more about how to discipline students. Some tips and ideas about how to deal with a student that is continuously unruly and disruptive in the class. In a case where explaining that the student is not bad and that rather their behaviour is wrong doesn't work so well, or isn't that effective. I also understand that these students are young and that in time they will learn the correct behaviours. I would've liked a section on discipline or techniques to adjust unwanted behaviour in a classroom setting.

Thanks for your videos and time you took to make this course.
I learned about schema's in children and how specific toys can help development in more detail.
Bradley Green

I enjoy this course a lot because it teaches me many other ways to encorage child's grow and developement in language acquisition, what children undergo when they acquire their first and language and how they learn a second language.
"A child who is not speaking may be actevily listening and may need time to process what they are hearing before using anything"- Catherine Stuart- this is really important because we need to observe and give the time that the child needs to process so we can have results on child's understanding and then they can interact with their peers using what they have listen and process before.
It is very important as a teacher to have as many ways to make children understand, like pointing, gestures, role play this is very important, to play, "playing is very important it because is one of the most natural and enjoyable things a child can do."-Tina Bruce- and I am totally agree, playing make children happy and they can practice many skills like fine motor, speaking, expressing and so many others skills. Happines becomes when you are having fun and that is what playing in school make
happier children, when a child is happy learns better and wants to reach many other skills as I already say.
Some things that happen to children is that they have been labelled and that mays occurs with in the family and a child that has been tagged transfers it to the way of learning, this is differnt when we praise a child, it gains confidence and help the child to learn and express feelings and emotions.
We can not assess children by a written test, observation is the way in wich we can assess a child and implementation creates admenting plans.
English in Early Childhood had make me understad the value of being a taecher and how important is to let children be happy and free in school, depends everything in us we are the leaders teaching leaders to grow safe and unique.

Teaching English as an additional or foreign language is challenging. The course "English in Early Childhood: Language Learning and Development" lasts for 6 week with focus on : 1- development stages 2- playing in childhood 3- interaction 4- learning in meaningful context 5- safety and trust 6- observation and assessment. Three main theories in learning " interaction" , " exposure", and "ZPD" are discussed and their relationship with learning in childhood is elaborated. I think this is an absolutely essential course for whom want to enter teaching additional language to children in early ages. I liked the course, the ideas, the videos, and the whole material prepared here. I appreciate all the staff's support. Thank you very much , Good job.

This course has been very helpful for me. I have learnt a lot of new ideas.
Children learn by playing, it is a very important stage for them. As adults, we should provide an appropriate environment for them. Children need time to play. We should value play and the learning opportunities. Play is key to the child' learning, development, confidence and well being.
We have to five children a feedback on a positive way but at the same time working on their mistakes to become better.
If we praise children for doing the right thing or getting something right, that tells them that we value that.
It is our reponsability as adults, to help children to keep that desire to learn, and grow that desire to learn and channel it in appropiate and lite affirming ways.
Children.
As adults, we are responsible for a child's well-being. We will be looking at just how important is is for a child to feel safe and happy in order to learn. When children form positive relationships with their carers, they feel safe, secure, and cared for.
We can help children to learn and grow by not labelling, or comparing. By always similling and being positive, and being consitent with rules and routines, and having realistic expectations and giving praise where it is relevant.
Positive reinforcement is known for its importance in this process. Even we, as adults, like to feel appreciated and are more productive it we have that feedback.
When they are playing you can notice uniqueness of each child. How they are communicating, how they change playing roles, they imitate voices, and expressions, gestures.
The role of the adult essentially, is to support and challenge the child in their learning journey. Provinding activities and stimulation or experiences for the children based on what we know about them.
We all want children to make good progress.
We want them to be confident, to be joyful, to be playful, to be determined, to be open-minded, to be curious.
Thank you so much for this great course.

I want to thank the organizer of this course. Helping children develop their language skills and development. By training educators and parents to do it differently through understanding how children learn.

This course has helped me personally to see that the conventional ways of assessment won't work with very young children. Sometimes they don't even work with older children or even adults. That the best way to assess them is by observing them. How they engage and interact in class, what kind of learners they are, what they enjoy to help them be more motivated or how much they have achieved from point A in time to point B rather than what we expect they should have achieved. I am indeed very grateful. I hope people everywhere will find time to take this course with future learn. So as to give our best in teaching kids English language development.

Learning observations and assessments in Early Years was very informative and helpful in planning activities and coming up with ways to make the experience of learning English fun and engaging for the children. I liked the way that the children are observed in a manner that they do not feel anxious and forced to speak which can lead to problems later on. I also liked the idea of the magic or wow moments that each child is appreciated for and celebrating these moments with the parents make it more memorable and worth it.