Teaching Languages to Young Learners

Recent years have seen rapid growth in the numbers of children being taught foreign languages at younger ages. While course books aimed at young learners are appearing on the market, there is scant theoretical reference in the teacher education literature. This book is one of the few to develop readers' understanding of what happens in classrooms where children are being taught a foreign language. It will offer teachers and trainers a coherent theoretical framework to structure thinking about children's language learning. The book gives practical advice on how to analyse and evaluate classroom activities, language use and language development. Examples from classrooms in Europe and Asia will help bring alive the realities of working with young learners of English.

Contents: CH 1 Children learning a foreign language; Learning language through tasks and activities; CH3 Learning the spoken language; CH 4 Learning words; CH 5 Learning grammar; CH6 Learning literacy skills; CH7 Learning through stories; CH 8 Theme-based teaching and learning; CH 9 Language choice and language learning; CH 10 Assessment and language learning; CH 11 Issues around teaching children a foreign language