Making mistakes is proof that kids are trying!
犯錯, 證明了孩子正在嘗試!
Many parents are alarmed at their children making grammatically incorrect sentences, something like “I’m play video games”. Such a sentence would’ve certainly infuriated our teacher then. Provided that many of us learned English at Middle School through grammar-based approach, we were drilled to mind the mistakes rather than to seek understanding and meaning. So, we quickly point out the mistake to the child and correct him instead of acknowledging and celebrating his achievement. He has just conveyed meaning in English and all he gets in return is “Your sentence is incorrect”.
當聽到孩子說了一句像”I’m play video games”這樣文法不正確的句子時, 大部分的父母都會緊張起來. 而這樣的一個句子大概也很難不讓老師抓狂. 在台灣, 多數的我們從國中才開始學習以文法為基礎的美語, 以致於我們傾向著重於文法上的錯誤, 而忘了去嘗試了解其中的意思. 所以, 我們會很快地指出孩子這句子文法中的錯誤並且糾正他, 而沒有察覺並鼓勵他剛剛完成的這個小成就. 他剛剛正用美語表與表達了他想說的話哩! 而他所得到的回饋卻只是”你的句子錯了喔!”
As parents, we’re rightly expected to teach our children right from wrong. But when it comes to learning a second language, this might’ve just taught the child a life damaging lesson, which is, “To speak English, you’ve got to get it right from the start.” Nobody wants to be wrong, not even children. So sooner or later, the child will come to the conclusion that it’s safer not to try to speak the language and that he’s not good at it anyway.
做為父母, 我們當然會希望教導自己的孩子從錯誤中學習到正確的事. 但是談到第二外語學習時, 這樣”開口說美語, 從一開始就要說對”的想法, 可能會對孩子往後有不良的影響. 沒有人喜歡做錯事, 特別是孩子. 孩子遲早會覺得不要嘗試說美語好了, 比較保險, 反正他也不是這麼在行.
Speaking English for many children is a huge daring experience. We should welcome their efforts with the same excitement and pride we displayed when they started to speak Chinese. Since they’re already more or less fluent in Chinese, we tend to take their accomplishments for long overdue: no cheering, no calling grandma or grandpa to tell, no boasting about it in front of friends…nothing. And yet, they’re making their baby steps in English. Their mistakes are equivalent of monosyllable words they used to utter in Chinese. These monosyllables were welcome with encouragement, understanding and love. Where’s that love now?
開口說美語對於許多孩子來說是件很可怕的事. 所以當他們嘗試開口說美語時, 我們應該像當初牙牙學語的他們開口說話時那樣地開心與驕傲! 現在的他們可以說起流利的中文, 我們也早已習慣了, 也不再歡欣鼓舞, 也不會打電話跟爺爺奶奶分享, 也不再朋友面前不斷地提起了! 現在的他們, 正在牙牙學”美語”的階段. 這些孩子一開始會犯下的錯誤就像他們當初開始說話時的各種單音詞. 那時的我們都會用鼓勵, 理解與愛去歡迎孩子開口說出的每個字. 現在呢?
At Kids R Us, we understand this. We therefore use different techniques and methods that aim at making sure that kids’ enthusiasm isn’t shattered in the process of helping them get their grammar act together. Result? They make mistakes, they learn and they speak confidently. They are on their way to becoming fluent in English rather than just being knowledgeable about the grammar rules.
在爾思美語, 我們了解這個. 我們用各式的方法與技巧來確保孩子的熱忱不會被這”文法要說對”的過程中被擊垮. 那結果會是如何呢? 孩子會犯錯, 他們會學習, 他們會很有信心地說美語. 他們會朝向可以說流利美語的路上前進, 而不會只在意究竟文法對不對!
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爾思美語 Kids R Us English
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