外籍老師專欄- 學齡前的孩子與兒童是怎樣學會語言的! (四之一)



我們這世代大抵都是從國中開始接觸美語, 從KK(還有個甚麼萬國)音標學起, 文法一條條地背, 學了6年, 好不容易進了大學, 說不定聯考的英文還考的不錯. 讀起原文教科書, 有個電子翻譯字典在手, 還能畫好重點. 但是..但是...總是傻傻分不清snack/snake, cake/cat的差異, 遇到外國人只會說一句, Hi! How are you? I am fine, thank you. 卻不知人家比較常用的是 How are you doing?

當然, 很多數的我們後來還是能說得還算不錯的英文, 足夠我們生活特別是工作上所需. 但這通常都是因為其他外在客觀環境的改變, 譬如出國讀書或旅遊或工作, 生活中多了說英文與用英文的機會, 才造就了我們長大後還能說出算得上流利的英文. 

然後, 我們有了自己的孩子! 

我們基於很多原因, 想讓孩子能早點起步學好我們自己有點哩哩辣辣的美語. 但, 想讓學齡前的孩子或是兒童學好美語(或是任何一種語言), 我們那時代的做法真的是行不通的(看看我們自己就好!), 畢竟我們可是到了國中才開始. 小小孩腦袋的思維邏輯與學習歸納能力, 很特別! 要幼稚園與國小孩子好好坐好聽課學美語, 是件徒勞無功的事! 對孩子也是個折磨~ 


且讓來爾思美語的外籍老師來告訴你, 小小孩是怎樣學會語言的~ 



Rethinking our approach to teaching English to VYLs (Very Young Learners, 3-7 years) and YLs(Young Learners, 8-12 years),  will require that teachers and parents alike become more aware of how this particular category of learners do learn languages. As a matter of fact, by the time they’re starting to learn English, they’re already speaking Chinese. So, it’s not so much about whether they can pick up English but rather about how we can best help them to do so. 
當我們再想想要如何教學齡前(3-7 years)或兒童(8-12 years)美語時, 老師與家長都必須要了解: 這年紀的孩子真的可以學好語言. 實際上, 當他們開始學美語時, 他們已經在講中文了. 所以, 這已經不是在於他們能不能學會美語, 而是我們如何能盡到最大的能力來幫助他們.

The following will briefly discuss three ways or strategies used by VYLs and YLs to learn languages, including English.
接下來, 我們來簡單談談三個12歲以下的孩子會用來學習語言(包括美語) 的方法, 

1. VYLs and YLs learn through doing. The learning comes as a by-product of the doing. They have no conscious awareness of the learning taking place. And in language learning, speaking is the doing and therefore is the best means of learning the language. It’s therefore important to draw a line between keeping kids busy and providing them with real opportunities for practicing the language. 
孩子透過”做”來學習. 這樣的學習過程是”做”所產生出來的副產品. 孩子不會感覺到他們正在”學習”. 而在語言的學習上, 開口說就是孩子的”做”, 也就是學習語言做好的工具. 只是, 純粹讓孩子有事情做跟提供他們真正可以練習開口說話的機會, 可是兩件不一樣的事. (關於更多這個想法, 請按此連結)

2. VYLs and YLs learn through experimenting. This is how they test out the concepts and work out the complex rules that govern the language to ultimately be able to creatively produce language on their own. A key premise of learning through experimenting is that mistakes are inevitable and even welcome in classrooms.
孩子透過”經驗”來學習. 在這過程中,孩子會測試語言中概念跟歸納想出複雜的規則, 最後他們會用自己有創意的方式來說出語言.  在這透過經驗來學習中, 有個很重要的一個前提是, 孩子犯錯是無可避免的, 甚至在課堂中是被鼓勵的.  (關於更多這個想法, 請按此連結)

3. VYLs and YLs learn through interactions. These interactions require little if any at all explanation, of grammar rules for example. Confirming or modifying their hypotheses of the rules that govern the language, picking up accents, decoding facial expressions and body languages, codes of conduct are a few results of meaningful interactions between VYLs, YLs and adults role models. 
孩子透過”互動”來學習. 這些互動並不需要很多的解釋或是文法規則. 確認或修正他們對於這語言規則的假設, 調整口音, 解讀臉部表情、身體語言或是行為準則, 都是幾個孩子跟大人之間有意義的互動會產生的結果.  (關於更多這個想法, 請按此連結)

Knowing that VYLs and YLs learn differently from us is one thing. Deeply understanding it to the point of advising ways and strategies to accompany this learning is another thing. But it’s imperative that we start now if the ultimate goal is to being able to confidently communicate and make oneself understood in real life settings rather than displaying expertise in grammar rules and K.K  phonetics. Applying the same old methods of teaching and expecting different outcomes just won’t work. 
了解兒童學習的方式跟我們不同, 是一件事. 但真正深入了解到能提供適合的方法與策略來伴隨孩子的學習則又是另外一件事了.  如果最終的目標是要讓孩子在真實生活中能夠自信地與他人溝通, 別人也能聽懂他在表達甚麼, 而非只是鑽研文法與KK音標, 那我們真的是要從現在就要開始了!! 我們不能再用以前的方式來教我們的孩子, 而卻期待結果跟我們不一樣, 這樣是行不通的. 

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爾思美語 Kids R Us English 
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