The best way to ensure kids grasp a foreign language is to start them early. Learning a foreign language can be beneficial for a kid’s future. However, because of their tender age, they may find these classes boring which makes it hard for them to stay engaged.
To make matters worse, having them concentrate on the ongoing lesson is a challenge for tutors because of the multiple distractions the internet poses. This challenge may be overcome if the tutors set up hands-on activities that are both fun and engaging for the kids.
If these activities support multiple kids at a time, then this will be a great advantage because kids love interacting with each other. The following tips, if followed correctly, will help reduce the short attention spans associated with kids.
Using a Personalized Approach
Different kids have and prefer different learning methods. Discussing with a kid will help reveal what they like and dislike about online classes. Some kids prefer visual aids while others are hands-on learners.
Knowing their preferences is advantageous in creating a customized online learning course. Using visual aids boosts their engagement.
Encouraging Show and Tell
Kids love telling stories about their experiences, hence this is a great way for them to sharpen their language speaking skills while interacting with each other in an online setting.
Depending on the age and skill level, tutors should select an item to talk about in the foreign language. This encourages participation since each kid gets their turn to showcase their conversational skills.
Using Interactive and Educative Games
Being miles away from each other doesn’t mean they can’t play together. There are dozens of online games which support multiple players per session.
Puzzle-solving and word-building games help build children’s vocabulary while having fun. Watching foreign online educational animations and cartoons is a good way of developing their interest in learning the language.
Other than the virtual games, tutors can also schedule online dancing classes and cook-offs among other physical activities. A balance between virtual and physical games helps jog their young brains and keep them active.
Labeling Household Items
For an immersive learning experience, kids should be encouraged to label household items in a foreign language using stickers. Adults in the household can also join in the fun to assess the kid’s progress.
This is a fun and enjoyable method of learning that will create lasting memories.
Encourage Cultural Learning
Kids tend to grasp easily the most fascinating parts of a topic, and not the technical parts. They will have more fun learning about the culture, cuisine, and art associated with the foreign language.
Teaching kids to speak a foreign language should be a fan experience on their part and not a chore. Online tutors should set up hands-on activities that present the learning process as a hobby. If kids feel the lessons aren’t a burden, their engagement level will rise.
All they need is some encouragement through the proper use of visual aids, interactivity, and fun activities to remind them how fun the online learning experience can be.
