HOW DO CHILDREN LEARN LANGUAGE SKILLS?

`Language learning requires more than grammar and vocabulary. Nor is imitation central to language learning. Children learn language swiftly, efficiently, and without instruction -- partly by imitation, but more by hypothesis testing (through discovering).

Children learn language naturally by observing the language spoken around them. Children then form rules about the language. Through experimentation, using the language, children test their hypotheses to see if their rules are correct. They then reformulate their rules or build upon them before testing again. The process continually builds upon their previous knowledge of and experience with the language.

Language does not naturally result from instruction. Children do not need to have the
rules of grammar explained to them. They actively discover the rules of language themselves. Exposed to a variety of activities, ideas and subject material, children can learn naturally -- swiftly, efficiently, and without (formal) instruction`.

Don’t just study English- experience it!

The following notes are excerpts taken from an article (July 8th, 98) in Yomiuri news by Helen Uchida, founder of Little America School (also Publisher of poular English games and materials for Kids. To visit their homepage to see their exciting educational range , click):

`Never explain; just do it! How do you explain a game? Just do it! Children learn English through experiencing it. If you point to something and say this is blue, it`s nothing to them. But if you say, `touch blue`, and make them run around the room on a `color hunt` to find, say and touch blue, they will never forget what blue is. So that`s what I hope they ( Monbusho) will do with English in 2002. I hope they will allow children to experience English and touch it.

When I see teachers talking about grammar points in Japanese, I think the present system ( Monbusho in JH schools) robs students of the experience of thinking, feeling and communicating in English.

The way you learn a sport, music or a language is by doing it. Just as you can`t become a good tennis player by watching, you can`t become an English speaker by listening to someone`s explanation. Just do it!