Not all kids have a natural interest in English. Teachers can face a real challenge in the classroom convincing children the worth of learning English beyond an intermediary level. Young people are notoriously short-sighted when it comes to their futures and we can’t blame them as they have limited experience and foresight.
Being literate is an essential life skill as the ability to not only decode the world around you but make informed and objective decisions is vital. A parent and teacher’s role for a child is to model for them the importance of developing their literacy skills. This task can be made easier by early intervention to help give your kids a love of English so that their motivation for learning the subject throughout their school careers is greatly improved.
Here are some ways to develop, instil and rekindle a love of English:
Reading
Reading your child stories is not only a great way to keep them entertained, but an essential part of their early learning program. Kids learn a plethora of skills from reading including visual awareness, increased vocabulary, foreign cultures, new ideas, spelling, decoding – the list is endless. Before your child even starts to read independently read with them as often as you can using a variety of books.
- Encourage them to ask questions.
- Use the pictures to help them follow the story.
- Sound out new words.
- Ask them to name letters.
- Use their finger to follow the words as you read.
Love books
Books can be used as a reward for a child. With new technology it can be all too easy to use games or tablets to entertain children. Instead of this encourage a love of books and reading from an early age. Kids will learn that the act of reading is not only entertaining it is an integral part of their everyday lives.
- Carry books with you instead of trucks or dolls.
- Ask them to choose their favourite books to take out.
- Have a bookcase in their room to display their books nicely.
- Include new books on their birthday and Christmas present lists.
Libraries
Public libraries are an amazing service offered by local governments. Take advantage of this service by getting your child a library card early on. It is a common occurrence for them to run baby nursery rhyme groups, poetry classes and reading circles. Check out your local library to see what they have on offer.
- Make visiting the library a family trip.
- Take the time to read your child a book of their choosing.
- Opt for a trip to the library for a treat rather than a toy store.
Starting a younger child on a journey to love English is easier than working with a teenager. However, you could try these options:
- Buying abridgements for the texts they are studying in class.
- Encouraging open talks at the dinner table about assignments or school work.
- For heavier texts such as Shakespeare there are Manga comic abridgements which are incredibly useful.
- Opt for a kindle or iPad to encourage them to read electronic books.
- Take them to a large bookstore to buy a book of their choosing.
No matter what age your child is, tutoring can help them to gain an insight into their own learning style and encourage them to work hard in English for satisfying results.