1. Teaching Young Learners—Activities for
Mandarin Teachers
Tonny Meng-Lun Kuo
Institute of Learning Sciences
National Tsing Hua University
March 17, 2015 @⼈人社院C403
少兒華語教學
活動設計妙點⼦子
2. Learning objectives:
After taking this course, you will be able to
1. Identify characters of young learners.
2. Differentiate teaching young/adult leaners.
3. Know some common activities for different levels.
4. Design a mini activity for Mandarin course.
5. Speak out components of an activity.
4. Background: Education
National Tsing Hua University, Taiwan. 2014-present
Master of Art in Learning Sciences
Concentration: Learning Technology and Guidance
National Hsinchu University of Education, Taiwan. 2009-2014
Bachelor of Art in Teaching English to Speakers of Other
Languages (TESOL)
Minor: Teaching Chinese to Speakers of Other Languages (TCSOL),
E-learning Technology
19. Task 1: Know your learners
Form a group in 2-3 people.
Think of the characteristics of young learners as many
as possible.
Compare with other groups.
The group got the most correct wins.
21. Characteristics of Young
Language Learners
Have a holistic approach to language— understand meaningful
messages but cannot analyze language yet.
Have lower levels of awareness about themselves as language
learners as well as about process of learning.
Have limited reading & writing skills even in their first language.
Are more concerned about themselves than others.
Enjoy fantasy, imagination, & movement.
22. Characteristics of Young
Language Learners
These children are well
established at school
comfortable with school
routines.
They show a growing interest
in analytical approaches, which
means that they begin to take
an interest in language as an
abstract system.
They have well developed skills
as readers & writers.
They have a growing
awareness of others & their
viewpoints.
They have a growing
awareness about the world
around us.
They begin to show interest in
real life issues.
23. Task 2: Sequencing
Use of language—Caretaker speech
A somewhat slower rate
of speech.
More distinct
pronunciation.
Shorter, less complex
sentences.
More rehearsing and
repetition.
More frequent meaning
check with the listeners.
The use of gesture, facial
expression and body
language.
Greater use of concrete
referents.
Scaffolding.
24. From Theories To Practice
Second Language Acquisition
Children: listen, speak, learning in a situated
meaningful context
Adults: afraid to speak, learning grammar rules and
vocabulary
Kranshen: comprehensible input, i+1
25. From Theories To Practice
Meaningful, interesting to the learners, i+1
Meaning is negotiated through interaction (Long)
non-threatening environment (able to speak), student-
centered
Should I correct student’s pronunciation/language use?
27. From Theories To Practice
時期 年紀 特⾊色 教學應⽤用
感覺動作期 0-2歲
焦點只在眼前與現在
(here and now)
多⽤用實物教學、讓⼩小
孩帶喜歡的東⻄西、唱
跳
前運思期 2-7歲
⾃自我中⼼心語⾔言、無法
解決層級問題、尚無
守恆概念
表達你的困惑不解、
向他們說明別⼈人想的
不⼀一樣
具體運思期 7-11歲
具有守恆概念、能夠
演繹推理、不能理解
抽象想法
要求解釋他們的推理
形式運思期
11-12歲
到成年
可以應付抽象想法、
提出多重假設並加以
測試
把抽象想法⽤用具體物
體做連結
28.
29. Language Learning
Environment
L1 environment
Language highly
contextualized
Language used is
authentic
Learner is highly
motivated
L2 environment
Language more
decontextulized
Language used more
artificial
Learners may not be
highly motivated
30. Summary
Task 1: Know your learners
Task 2: Sequencing— Use of language “Caretaker
speech”
Task 3: Piaget’s stage of development
Multiple representation: using different and various
activities integrated 4 skills in your teaching
32. Modern Teaching Approach
The Natural Approach (Tracy Terell & Stephen Krashen,
1983)
Communicative Language Teaching (CLT)
Task-based Language Teaching (TBLT)
Total Physical Response Storytelling (TPRS, Blaine Ray,
1990)
33. Principles for design young
learners’ language materials
1. Using different ways to teach/review the lesson.
2. Making sure your activity is meaningful, situational, and
fun.
3. Creating a non-threatening environment.
4. Focusing on message delivery and communication
5. Connecting to the real world— authenticity
41. Reading and writing
Using questions to guide reading and writing
Formative feedback— focus on process
Focus on meaning rather than grammar
Group/pair work is much better than individual work
Ask students to share personal experience: content
52. Learning vocabulary
Flash card activities (drilling, matching, touch the word,
voc book, making sentences)
Matching: picture/word, word/pinyin
Find it out! (find vocabulary from the textbook, group work,
components from the textbook)
Bingo game
Worksheet (stroke, pinyin, examples)
81. At least you should know…
主題
教學者
時間
對象
學習⺫⽬目標
語⾔言焦點
(溝通焦點)
準備的教具
步驟
(差異化的層次)
(教學反思)
82. Task 5: Design an activity
You have 10 minutes!
Form a group of 3-4.
Choose one textbook and design a mini activity.
Provide basic information and procedure.
Share your activity with others.
84. Learning objectives:
After taking this course, you will be able to
1. Identify characters of young learners.
2. Differentiate teaching young/adult leaners.
3. Know some common activities for different levels.
4. Design a mini activity for Mandarin course.
5. Speak out components of an activity.