English At Home
English - A funny, funny, funny language. However, it is also the universal language spoken across the world. It plays an essential role in our and our kids’ lives. It is the language in which our children study every subject, a language that they must develop in order to become young and confident adults. The most important part of any language is thinking in it - most kids think in their mother tongue and try to translate. This makes them less confident and slower to speak or write. At Little Genius, we give them the tools to think in it.
Did you know that English sometimes defies its own rules? It will tell you that ‘jail’ and ‘prison’ are synonyms but ‘jailer’ and ‘prisoner’ are antonyms. It will also tell you that ‘a fat chance’ and ‘a slim chance’ mean the exact same thing.
It is sometimes difficult for us as adults to use the language correctly. Then, can you imagine what happens inside our children’s heads? How do we teach them all the exceptions? Where to apply the rules and where not? Well, the answer is pretty simple. CONVERSATION. Okay, not that simple but we will help you get there.
Before we reach an understanding of how to be better at English at home, let us understand why it is so important. English is-
- A global language
- A language of the media industry
- A language used in schools
- A language of business
- A language that gives access to multiple cultures
- A language that removes barriers
- A language that opens an ocean of career opportunities
- A language that lets people express vividly
With all the above benefits that come with English, don’t you think that it will only be a *plus* for our children to know this language inside and out?
Little Genius started off as an English Academy and it was one of the first of its kind before we started a diverse platform. We used to conduct spoken English classes for kids and still continue doing so. We also understand the rules of this language and what children need better than anyone else. Experience has been kind to us. While we take care of the rules and help your children become the best version of themselves, here are a few things you could do with them at home to improve their conversational skills in English.
Host playdates with their friends
Music elevates mood, reduces stress and stimulates memories. You can sing songs in English with them. Read poems out to them and make them do the same thing. Sing while working, while cooking or playing with them and see them pick up words at a pace you wouldn’t believe.
Speak in English at home for set periods of time
Use English with them every day for set periods of time. Make sure that they respond to you in English no matter how slow their sentence forming skills are. Give them time to think and talk to you in English. This will hone their thinking skills in English. Once they start thinking in English, speaking will come automatically to them.
Watch shows and movies together
There is no parent-children combination in this world that wouldn’t enjoy some quality time together watching movies. So, why not watch some movies and cartoons that were made in English. Education and fun at the same time, best of both worlds.
Read books and comics together
Reading books and comics can improve children’s written and spoken English. It gives them an understanding of how the language works and it also improves their vocabulary. Books are the stepping stones for children to use better words. When they see the word ‘excellent’ being used instead of ‘very good’ in a sentence, they will learn how to use it in their day to day conversations.
Play games with them in English
Action games, board games, word games will help your children process situations in English. Some of these games include Scrabble, Wordle, Crosswords, etc. You can even make them act out something they watched on tv or play charades with them. Hosting puppet parties is another way to teach them English at home! These activities retain themselves easily in children’s brains which further helps them use this language correctly.
Now that you know of some fun ways to teach English to your children at home, it’s time for you to know what kind of words you should focus on. You need to understand your children’s interests and personalities before picking up topics and words that you’d like them to know and learn. A few topics you could start with are- numbers, colours, body, toys, clothes, animals and food.
We hope this article helps you and your children. Little Genius will always be here to help and support you through this process. Don’t hesitate to reach out to us for more tips and hacks!
