What Learning English Will Be Like for Your Child

English is one of the most commonly spoken languages and is the most common language nationwide. However, plenty of children are just learning to speak English. According to Healthy Children, approximately 20% of children nationwide speak a non-English language at home, with Spanish being the most common language besides English. The Varnett Public School is a bilingual school that provides a quality English as a Second Language (ESL) program. Here, we'll review what that will be like for your child.

Learning the Basics

Children begin learning English much like any language throughout early childhood education. Kids usually start by practicing the alphabet and learning to recognize their letters. It's common for teachers to teach the alphabet song and familiar words, like the days of the week and months. This lays the foundation for learning sight words.

Using Sight Words

English can be a challenging language to learn. There are plenty of rules to follow regarding spelling, and some words don't sound the way they look. Many teachers use sight words to help students recognize specific words. Parents can help children identify sight words by reviewing them daily and using flash cards.

Explaining Differences

Children who already understand a different language's components will encounter several new things while learning English. For example, in Spanish, words have different endings to reference the "gender" of an object. This does not happen in English. Teachers will explain these differences to help children learn to speak English and resolve confusion. This is common in older students and seen less often in early childhood education.

Exposure to English

Many kids learn to speak a second language in early childhood education. One way that this is taught is with constant exposure to the second language. Teachers often take this same approach when teaching children English. Kids will read stories and watch movies in English. Teachers will often use English in the classroom, too. Many children will receive materials to take home to continue learning English outside of the classroom.

Learning a second language ensures children can communicate with the surrounding community. This can also help parents in Spanish-speaking homes because children can help them overcome a language barrier. Contact The Varnett Public School today to learn more about our English as a Second Language program.