Wednesday, November 4, 2009

How to Use Games to Teach Your Child English

By Adriana Noton

Children are little sponges with a capacity for learning that can be downright astounding, which is why one can teach a child English faster than a full grown adult.

It is said that children can learn and say about 50 words around 18 months. At this time, they can begin to use new words only after hearing them spoken aloud once. By the age of 2 they know roughly 250-350 words and a mere six months later their word capacity can double to around 600.

Interestingly enough, they learn language without any formal training, but merely by listening and picking up patterns of speech. Speech is then translated to visual objects to which the sounds apply. Kids then correlate phonetics to these objects and know that the sound-words are used to describe them.

This information can be used when formulating games that teach English. With games, a child can firmly grasp a new language in a fun and easy way that resonates with young minds. This enables them to retain the information that they have gathered for real world applications.

Finding Online English Courses for Children

There are many tools at a parent's disposal when it comes to teaching a child English. One hands-on approach is the use of flashcards. Flashcards are typically illustrated with the words one is trying to instruct their kids to learn on them. While these can be a handy teaching device, the best approach is to find a fun, more interactive way to educate your child in the English language.

An on line English class may be just the ticket. There are numerous courses, both free and for profit, that can be found via a diligent web search. The kind of Internet course you opt for will largely depend on you needs and what you can afford. Just note that paid courses can offer a lot more amenities than those found on free sites.

Types of Games

Many games that teach English will employ the use of songs or phonics to engage the child's mind and make them more open to retaining language information. Animated films, images, pictures and interactive puzzle solving are also methods that have been proven to help teach a child English fairly quickly and easily.

When investigating the various techniques, try to see what your child responds to. Every child will be different and what works for one may not work for another. When you locate a system that works, stick with it until it appears your child has reached a plateau and then switch gears.

Above all, remember to keep your child's imagination and attention engaged. If education becomes a chore, young minds will refuse to participate.

Children Respond to Ritual

Studies show that kids responds well to structure, so if you are really set on teaching a child English, you will need to set aside a special time of day everyday, for instruction. The child will soon acclimate to the idea that learning English occurs at certain time of day and may even come to you to remind you its training time.

Teaching a child English can be a richly rewarding experience when adults keep in mind that they have to approach the endeavor creatively. Utilizing games that teach English is one way to do just that.

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