About this course

At first, teaching English to children when they’re still learning their mother tongue is a challenging but worthwhile prospect. So, in this course, you’ll learn how and why children learn best through play. What can parents and practitioners do to help children get the most out of a learning experience?

This “English in Early Childhood: Language Learning and Development” course will explore how young children learn English and search for many more aspects of early childhood learning and development.

Besides, British Council educators and experts will share their insights and experiences to help you learn how to best speak with young children; how to create the best environment for them to learn English as a supplementary language; and how to oversee their progress.

Course details:

• Course developer: British Council
• Language: English
• Course provider: FutureLearn
• Subject: Learning & teaching
• Cost: Free with limited access, Monthly Subscription: $23.33 or buy the course with one-off payment: $54
• Certificate: Paid certificate available (optional)
• Duration: 6 weeks (2 hours/week)
• Start date: Available Now
• Free Access to this course will expire on: October 26, 2022

Course instructors:

1. Sheona Gilmour:

She has over 20 years of experience working with early year’s children and young learners in kindergartens, schools, and teaching centers.

2. Tracey Chapelton

She has been teaching languages for more than 20 years. She loves the innovative features of teaching and learning.

Learning objectives

By the completion of the course, you’ll be able to:

• Find out how children learn and how they acquire language
• Debate the importance of play and look at language development prospects
• Reflect on ways to communicate effectively with young children
• Discover meaningful learning and developing language in context
• Describe the conjunction between learning and a child’s well-being
• Determine techniques to support and challenge children, and measure their progress

Who can enroll?

This course will be of significance to you if you are:

• A parent of young children who desires to help their child learning an additional language;
• An English teacher or an early childhood specialist; or
• Someone who is enthusiastic in the area of child development and language learning,

If English is not your main language, please rest assured that this course is appropriate for those who have learned English to about intermediate level.

Course content

What topics will you cover?

How children learn

• Early childhood development
• Children and language acquisition

Learning through play

• The significance of play
• Creating a suitable environment for play
• Developing language through play

How to talk to young children

• Inspiring emotional development
• Developing language through interactions

Learning: English and everything

• Developing the whole child
• Learning English contextually
• Guiding the learning experience

Positive relationships and enabling environments

• Helping children feel secure and relaxed
• The value of knowing the child well

Watching children learn

• Every child is unique
• Observation
• Assessment in early childhood
• Planning: building on what children can do

Through videos and live events, you will interact with early childhood experts and parents. Additionally, at every step, you will be offered clues, advice, and downloadable resources that will help you in teaching English as a foreign language to children.

How to apply?

You can apply for this course by registering in the below link.

Enroll Now

To learn more about Free Online Course on ‘Learning English in Early Childhood’, please refer to FutureLearn’s website.

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