Mikhaela Palin2 June 2016 at 20:45
That is great and good progress for the students. I am very excited and looking forward to the end of the year.
For a week at the Eriku elementary school, I have begun a revolution in teaching the English language to 8 year olds, some having started to learn English only eighteen months before. There was no mention of grammar but only sequences of rhythmic patterns.
The structures were mainly those of simple sentences with a limited vocabulary to be used while the patterns were being learned.
Students were learning to go to town, go into the house, go and get water at the river, buy food at the market, sit with me, read a book, walk to the house, go into the house, open the door, shut the window, close your eyes, open your eyes, wash the clothes and more.
These were enough to produce basic patterns. Complex vocabulary comes when the patterns are mastered in simple words.
Last week, we focused on single thought patterns:
Open the door.
Go into the house.
Sit on the floor,
Close your eyes.
Go to the market.
Open the window.
Open the window.
Read a book.
Call the dog.
Call the dog.
Buy some food.
Talk to me. and more
Now it is time to extend the structures with and, but, with, to. We will start with the connector and:
Open the door and go inside.
Sit on the floor and read a book.
Go to market and buy some food.
Open the window and call the dog.
But that opens the door to further stringing of patterns as lists which is most relevant at high school and business college in report writing.
Open the door, go inside and sit on the floor.
Go to the market, buy some food and come back to the house.
Go to bed, close your eyes and fall asleep.
He went to the room, looked around and then went out again.
Stringing of phonic patterns can now become the very basis of teaching of English to young students. It is like stringing beads on a necklace. Limit the grammar and drill the patterns. Tell them the grammar from Grade 4.
I think that / I will go to town / to buy some food.
Would you like to / come with me / and swim in the sea?
I would like to / sit at the house / and talk to you / about my school.
I think that / I would like to / go with you / to the airport.
