Parent Login
English

How do I start teaching my kids English?

Tips and guidelines

The number of English language speakers is increasing each day to reach 1.3 billion speakers around the globe that it is an essential for our lives.

It is the dream of many parents to see their children speak fluent English, but do not know to start helping them learning the language.

It is not a problem if your English is not perfect, you just need to be ambitious and enthusiastic to give your children the support needed for the journey. Your child follows your steps and will notice your enthusiasm for learning.

Do not expect immediate results, though. Your child will not speak English that quickly but the learning process is gradual and needs your patience, give them the time and the space they need to learn in their own time.

What is the perfect age?

Two opinions in this regard, to start at late age, between 10 and 12 years. The argument is that starting late will give some time for the child to absorb his own mother language before learning new language. Additionally, learning at early age will make the process slow.

On the other hand, learning a new language at early age (between 3 and 5 years) is ideal for the child to be able to distinguish between two sets of vocabularies.

Age, however, is not the ruling factor here but the environment, the country of residence and the character of the child. It is a case-by-case issue. While the most common learning approach nowadays is to help the child acquire the English language at an early age while introducing the grammar and the other language aspects.

Rowad Alkhaleej International Schools offers Pingu’s English at our schools in cooperation with Kingston University UK. This program provides children with the chance to get ahead in life by helping them learn the international language of communication and business from the earliest possible stage while keeping the balance with their mother language.

What is next?

Supporting your child to learn the language is a challenging task, try to make it joyful. Below are some tips that are extremely useful to help you out:

  • Learn English. It is important for the parents to know the language. Your child will be more enthusiastic if you are also learning at the same time. It is a beautiful encouraging gesture.
  • Establish a routine. Fifteen minutes session frequently is enough for young learners at an early age. Try to do certain activities at the same time of the day. Reading a story before bedtime is another ritual that can be added to your routine.
  • Use the English language in everyday tasks and habits, brushing the teeth, eating, and doing the school homework.
  • Most linguists think that 30% of the English learning process is through “listening”. This applies to your child. Use songs, all types of songs. They are effective to learn new words and improve pronunciation. Make sure that the songs are relevant to your child’s age.
  • Children learn easily when they are having fun. Flashcards, board games, and word games are essential tools to introduce the language to your child. Play with them and laugh out, make mistakes, and correct them. It is part of the journey.
  • Comics are also of great value and helpful learning tool. The colors and the narrative of the stories are visually enriching the child’s imagination and linking them to the letters and the phrases easily.
  • Make good use of modern technology. Children like it. Use the mobile/tablet applications and the on-line learning websites. It is all about having fun while learning.
  • Hire a professional if needed. Private tutor or registering your child in a reputable English course is a good idea.

Which words and phrases should I start with?

Talk with your child about his interests, they should be a priority. There are, however, some basic topics that are ideal to start with:

  • Numbers (1–10; 10–20; 20–100)
  • Colors
  • Adjectives (e.g., big, small, tall, happy, sad, tired)
  • The body parts.
  • Animals (e.g., pets, farm animals, wild animals).

No need to worry

It is natural for many parents to be worried about introducing the English language to their non-native children. They may fear that the child will mix it with the Arabic mother tongue and forget about it. No need to worry because children at this early age can deal with both languages. These fears are valid, especially for expats, but controllable at the same time- though.

Language is a communication tool in a highly dynamic world that changes every day. Work with your child to always keep his identity and remind him of the mother tongue.