머리말

Before we start the journey of teaching English to children, let us think about a fundamental issue. Why should a child learn a foreign language which takes so much time, energy, and cost in the learning process? Why do we teach elementary school children English when they have a lot of work to do in Korean? These are the questions that have been debated for many years in Korea and elsewhere. An answer can be found in a simple comparison. We need to learn English for the same reason as we need to learn the computer skill to live in the modern world (a majority part of the world, if not everywhere). People use the Internet to access resources and use computer programs to write reports or letters and to do business. Just as computer use has become an everyday activity,

foreign language skill is another necessary tool for people to live in this interconnected world. Nowadays it is hard to find a product that is made of the materials and labor solely from one’s own country. nterconnection of the world is becoming deeper and broader, and people from different countries communicate with each other mostly in English. Thus by teaching children English we are helping them to be better equipped to live in the ‘global village’.

Another reason for a child to learn English is that learning a foreign language can facilitate a child’s cognitive and personality development. Studies have shown that learning a foreign language helps children develop their comprehension and social skills. Also, a child who has been exposed to a different language and culture has a greater possibility of developing open, acceptable, and understanding attitudes towards other people and cultures. Lastly, the physical and mental flexibility of childhood is a wonderful advantage for learning another language efficiently. Children’s speech organs and egos are much more flexible than adults’: Children are at the best stage of life for learning English.

This book is designed to provide pre-service/in-service English teachers with a theoretical background and practical ideas for teaching English to children. The approaches and activities presented in this book intend to tap into children’s strengths and weaknesses as young language learners. Children love fun, adventure and imagination, and at the same time they are spontaneous with a limited attention span. This book deals with children’s characteristics as language learners, methods of teaching language skills, assessment, class management, planning, and materials.

In-Ok Kim