Young English Learners Research Articles

The Use of Animation Video as Online Learning Media to Teach English for Young Learners

During the pandemic of COVID-19, all teaching and learning activities had to be transformed into distance-learning or it was called Learning from Home. This immediate shift required all parties including teachers, parents, and students to be able to cooperate well. However, the implementation of this new learning method did not just run smoothly. Many factors influenced the effectiveness of Learning from Home, one of them was students' motivation to learn. Students, especially young learners, would be motivated to learn if the media used and the teaching method are interesting. Thus, in this research, animation video was developed as the online learning media for young learners. This research aimed to find out the effectiveness of animation video for teaching English to young learners viewed from the teachers and parents’ perspective. This was qualitative research with a descriptive approach. The data was obtained through observation, questionnaire distribution, and interviews. Then, the data was analyzed by data organization, data reduction, data description, data interpretation, and data validation. The result of this research revealed that the role of animation video as online learning media for young learners is effective to motivate the students to learn. It is expected that the result of this research may add scientific knowledge especially in the field of teaching English for young learners.

Teachers’ Perception Towards Local Content-Based English Materials of Speaking Skill for Young Learners

As one of the most significant communication skills that one is required in the digital era, it is necessary to develop speaking skills among young learners who learn English at elementary school earlier. However, English was not the primary subject for Elementary students, especially in State Elementary schools. So, it made the English teachers have difficulty finding suitable textbooks for students. This article details the findings of a study conducted to learn more about the needs of young English learners in primary schools in the digital age. Four Elementary English teachers in Palangka Raya participated in the study. The study instruments were a questionnaire and interview guide. The survey results are revealed using percentages and qualitative descriptions. The findings will be utilized to create and develop an English e-book (based on local material) for young learners studying English at the elementary level.

Classroom Interactional Competence of Young Learners with Story-Based Lessons in an EFL Context

Making use of the methodological framework of conversation analysis, the present study aims to investigate story-based classroom discourse with young learners of English in an EFL context. The data were collected from a private IB school following the Primary Years Programme (PYP) curriculum. The participants were 24 young learners who were under the age of 6 and two teachers. To present the interactional organisation of the classroom interaction, 16 hours of story-based lessons in two kindergarten classrooms were audio-recorded and transcribed in detail. The data was analysed from a discourse-analytic perspective. Although the study had hypothesised that learner initiatives would be more frequent in the post-story stages, the findings showed that the pre-story stages created more engaging learning environments. Based on the findings, the implications were provided for EFL classrooms as well as suggestions for further research.

Интегриране на музика в чуждоезиковото обучение

Results from recently published scientific papers which reveal how music activities influence language development are presented in the article. A statement is made that in order to be able to implement cross-curricular links future teachers should be well acquainted with the theoretical grounds and possibilities for integrating music with foreign language teaching. The results from a survey of future teachers’ views on the relationship between music and language development and on the ways of implementing musical elements in language teaching and learning are presented in the paper. Introducing the new academic course “Musical works into the foreign language teaching of young learners (English)” into the syllabus was the reason to do the survey. On the basis of the survey data some conclusions are made. Although the future teachers’ views on the influence of music on language development are still imprecise and incomplete they all show a positive attitude towards implementing music in the process of teaching a foreign language to children. The course “Musical works into the foreign language teaching of young learners (English)” will give students the opportunity to familiarize themselves with the results of recently done scientific research that reveal particular facts and parameters of this influence and will help them acquire competences for implementing musical works into the process of teaching a foreign language to children.

EFL Teacher’s View on Virtual Based Storytelling in Teaching Vocabulary for Elementary Students

Teaching English to young learners (TEYL) is different from teaching adults. Children need constant attention and assistance as well as motivating methods to keep them engaged particularly during online learning in the pandemic era these days. This study aims to investigate English teacher’s perception on teaching English vocabulary to elementary students’ by using storytelling method in a virtual environment. The study asked the following question: What is the English teacher’s perspective on teaching English using storytelling virtually during the pandemic? The study interviewed an English teacher of a private school in Bekasi, Indonesia using a semi-structured interview guide. The study found that the English teacher agreed that storytelling is beneficial to use in teaching English for young learners. In addition, the teacher mentioned that there were several issues during the online learning such as unenthusiastic students, students’ limited access to the gadgets, and students’ passive involvement during the learning. Further, in terms of teaching with storytelling, the teacher would request the students to make a video and retell stories in the textbook. This study concludes that it is paramount for English teachers to continuously provide varied teaching methods in order to solve problems faced by Indonesian elementary students during online learning.

Developing Animal Picture Game to Improve Young English Learners’ Plural and Singular Mastery

Interactive learning media can engage young learners to effectively absorb learning materials. Therefore, this developmental research was conducted to produce an interactive game that improves young learners' mastery of plural and singular nouns and enrich young learners' animal-related vocabulary. The researchers employed the ADDIE development model that began by analyzing problems related to the predetermined topic, analyzing the environment and work situation, designing the product, developing the product based on validation results from three expert validators, and conducting a product trial. The researchers investigated the product’s feasibility by performing a small-sccale trial and a large-scale trial. The research findings indicate that the developed interactive game was practical and useful. In short, the developed interactive game is feasible to assist young learners in learning plural and singular nouns and enrich their vocabulary.

Teaching English to Young Learners: Second Language Acquisition or Foreign Language Learning? – A Case Study

A well-known, long-standing and heated debate across the literature concerning applied linguistics is whether within the classroom teachers are dealing with second language acquisition or second language learning. This controversial issue is especially relevant for contexts where English is learned as an English as an Additional Language (EAL) as in Portugal. This is particulalry important at a national level, where English is currently taught as a compulsory subject across primary education, with minimal input.However, the English language curriculum, its pedagogy, and assessment are not anchored on Content for Language and Integrated Learning (CLIL) principles, hence resorting mainly to the students’ mother tongue. As we move towards identifying and synthesizing best pedagogical practices for Teaching English to Young Learners, it is key that we seek a deep understanding of the most effective teaching strategies to foster second language acquisition. As the matter of fact, second language acquisition and overall literacy development have long been considered key to young learners of English, as a strong and solid primary education is critical to ensuring their long-term academic success (Snow, Burns, & Griffin, 1998). Nonetheless, one major issue concerning primary English langauae teaching is the overwhelming lack of CPD opportunities and research-informed teaching, thus resulting in English language teachers’ unsufficient pedagogical preparation, leading in turn to students’ disengagement within the second language learning process.Therefore, this paper seeks to explore whether exposure to English-only language lessons, through cross-curricular work sets a viable and solid path for second language acquisition in contexts where it is commonly believed that it is only possible to learn English as a set of isolated words.As methodology for the present study there was resort to children’s literature, language games and to an English-only classroom environment to simulate a bilingual education classroom. Within storytelling and cross-curricular work, key vocabulary was taught, hence working the language both at word and sentence level.The findings, based in students’ samples of work, do illustrate pedagogical practices which demonstrate successful second language acquisition, namely morpheme order acquisition, even with minimal exposure to the target language.

Game-Based English Learning for Young Learners: A Systematic Review

Games has been extensively known to increase students' motivation and interest in learning English. However, its main findings and the trends in English teaching and learning for young learners are still unknown. To fill the gap, the aim of this study was to examine the application of games-based English learning for young learners. A literature analysis was conducted to several databases including Garuda, Science Direct, Google Scholar, Research Gate, Taylor and Francis, Eric, and Jour. System, and a total of 30 journals were analyzed through systematic review was used as the research methodology. The journals were analyzed utilizing a content analysis method and the data are presented in systematic diagrams and tables. The result of the study revealed that game-based English learning was very popular among Indonesian English young learners between the years 2011-2021. In 2020, the popularity of games based on English learning was very high. In addition, the most used research method in game-based English learning studies was quantitative method. Moreover, game-based English learning was most implemented at the elementary school levels, and the most learned language skill was to increase vocabulary. Further analysis of challenges, advantages and effectiveness related to the use of game-based English learning for young learners was also illustrated.

Improving Young Learners Vocabulary Mastery Through Game-Based Learning Using “MOFIN Mystery Box”

Teaching English as a foreign language is a challenge for all teachers, especially teachers who teach English for young learners. Despite so many challenges, English is highly recommended to be taught to children in primary schools. Teaching English to young learners must begin with an introduction to vocabulary. Vocabulary is the foundation and most important aspect of learning any language. The challenge of teaching English to young learners is the level of English proficiency of the teachers, as well as some new obstacles, particularly in terms of techniques policy, teaching English for young learners also requires creativity to make learning fun, because children enjoy having fun and playing and they also easily side-tracked, so teachers should choose teaching methods that are appropriate for their age group, game-based learning can improve students' vocabulary mastery, motivation, and interest in learning. Children employ their senses of smell, touch, taste, sight, and hearing to investigate the physical world holistically. Therefore, it would be better if children learn to use touchable games like “MOFIN Mystery Box”. The purpose of this study is to find out whether the “MOFIN Mystery Box” media can improve students' vocabulary mastery at Sukamanunggal State Elementary School. This research is qualitative research. Data collection techniques using observation. The data analysis techniques used in this study are identification, classification, and description. The result of this study is “MOFIN Mystery Box” can increase students’ vocabulary mastery at Sukomanunggal State Elementary School.

THE USE OF E-RESOURCES FOR YOUNG LEARNERS ENGLISH TEACHING MATERIALS

As internet technology has become more influential and cultured, online or e-resources are nowadays present as alternatives for teaching materials. The resources themselves play an important role in lesson planning, instruction delivery, and take a part in determining the learning achievement. This study was conducted to investigate the forces that drive elementary school English teachers (N = 178) in utilizing online teaching materials together with the benefits and challenges they faced in using them. From the questionnaire, it was revealed that almost all respondents used and benefited from online resources taken from Google, YouTube, and other search engines. Further investigation through interviews revealed prevalent responses on e-learning materials utilization that are categorized as follows: accessibility, practicality, authenticity, and variety. Other benefits, such as the features of online resources that positively attract young learners in foreign language learning are meaningfully advantageous as they improve students’ learning engagement (SLE). These findings support evidence for e-learning resources as teaching materials for overcoming the shortage of teaching guidelines and materials in English for Young Learners (EYL) classes. Teachers’ responses towards the challenges in using this type of material lead to the implication that schools and other related stakeholders should take serious concerns to equip EYL teachers with professional development or in-service training, particularly in teaching material development and online resources integration.

The Effect of the Online and Offline Blended Teaching Mode on English as a Foreign Language Learners' Listening Performance in a Chinese Context.

With the rapid development of digitalisation, multimedia and network-based communication technology, all walks of life are undergoing change and development driven by the application of the internet to conventional industries. Especially because of the outbreak of coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19), English teaching and learning modes are undergoing revolutionary changes worldwide (Wong et al., 2020). Online courses and materials have become the norm for students, and combined with offline English learning activities, an online and offline blended learning mode has ultimately emerged (Graham, 2006; Whittaker, 2013). Whereas blended learning has been considered in several contexts, it has been less investigated in the field of blended English learning mode for the listening comprehension ability and emotional experiences of young learners of Chinese English as a foreign language (EFL) while doing the tasks. Thus, this study focussed on the achievement and experience of Chinese EFL junior high school students during blended learning using Quizlet software as the online learning tool. This study aimed to explore the following: (1) the effect of the online and offline blended mode on the learning outcomes of students and (2) the experience of students while engaging with blended tasks in terms of their learning interest, attitude, and strategy use in English listening learning. A 4-month teaching intervention involving the online and offline blended mode was conducted in English listening classes. Adopting mixed-methods qualitative and quantitative research, this study examined the engagement process of two classes of students and analysed data from their English listening tests and follow-up in-depth interviews. The results suggested that the blended activity was conducive to enhancing the listening performance of students. Moreover, the attitudes of students toward English listening learning shifted from a relatively negative engagement to a more positive one. Meanwhile, the interest of students grew and their learning strategies became more diversified. These findings have implications for English teaching and learning activity design for young learners.

On-Task and Off-Task Self-Assessment: Which Works Better on Young Learners’ Writing Performance?

The implementation of self-assessment might contribute to the young learners’ English proficiency and affective domain. Yet, there is still limited findings found for the effect on young learners’ writing performance. This experimental study investigated the effect of on-task and off-task self-assessment on young learners of English as a foreign language in Bali, Indonesia. 46 sixth graders participated in this study were required to do self-assessment in completing their writing prompt. A self-assessment checklist was used as the instrument. The on-task self-assessment group applies the self-assessment checklist at every stage of their writing process, namely pre-writing, drafting, revising, editing, and publishing. On the other hand, the off-task self-assessment group uses the self-assessment checklist before they start the writing process. Using independent samples t-test for hypothesis testing, it was found that there is no significant difference in both groups’ writing performance since the real probability that is due to sampling error is 0.194 which is bigger than the significance level of 0.05. Therefore, self-assessment could be implemented in on-task and off-task since it brings similar effect to the young learners’ writing performance.

English for Young Learners (EYL) Policy and Practice in ASEAN Countries

This article compares and discusses the current state of teaching English to young learners (EYL) in ASEAN country members. It pictures the policy and practice of EYL in which English is adopted as either a first, second, or foreign language. The discussion on each country begins with a brief historical and political review that helped shape the country’s policy on foreign language education. It then moves to the status of English in the polity then to EYL policy and practice of each country and follows next the challenges each country experiences regarding EYL. The final part of the article discusses the implication related to what needs to be done to address these challenges. Keywords: EYL policy and practice, English in ASEAN

Impact of School from Home in Teaching and Learning English for Young Learners

The objectives of this study were to examine the impact of school from home in teaching and learning English for young learners. This study employed a case study approach, which is an embedded single-case design. A set of questionnaires was distributed to twelve young learners in the fourth grade of an elementary school in Singaraja and one English teacher. The young learners in this study were selected with purposive sampling, where participants were selected based on their parents' and teachers’ consent. Furthermore, an interview was also conducted with one English teacher from an elementary school in Singaraja to obtain the supplementary data. The findings indicate that the impact of school from home in teaching and learning English had some positive and negative impacts. Therefore, this study ends with suggestions for teachers and parents during school from home.

The Development of M.Vocset for Building Prescholers English Vocabulary Inventory

The objectives of this research are (1) to develop M-Vocset for teaching English for young learner and (2) to know the benefit of M-Vocset for teaching English in Kangaroo Preschool. In this research, researcher used Research and Development (R&D) model from Borg and Gall. To simplify this research, the researcher shortened it to four stages that are: data collection and information, planning, product development and final product. Data collection technique used in this research is interview and document analysis. This research was conducted at Kangaroo Preschool with age 2-4 years old. The findings of this research are: analysis needs of students and document analysis. The result is that researcher use Holy days  as learning material to be developed. To accomplish M-Vocset, the researcher asked for input from the expert team and also the teacher there. Regarding the benefits, it is easy to use and it is to teach students how to write a sentence in English. M-Vocset develops student character regarding tolerance.

Learning semantic and thematic vocabulary clusters through embedded instruction: effects on very young English learners’ vocabulary acquisition and retention

AbstractResearch has suggested an interference effect for words taught in semantic clusters due to the semantic links connecting the words. Thematic clustering of vocabulary is an alternative method of presenting new words to second language (L2) learners. However, what is known about the effects of semantic and thematic clustering has been uncovered through the recruitment of adult learners, with little research conducted with very young learners. Moreover, language textbooks and curriculums for very young learners continue to structure vocabulary semantically. Embedded instruction using storybook contexts has been suggested as a suitable context-based vocabulary teaching technique although knowledge of its effects is limited. To investigate this claim, a quasi-experimental within-subjects design was used to investigate whether embedded instruction could differentially affect very young L2 learners’ learning of new vocabulary taught in either semantic or thematic clusters (N = 38) compared to a control (N = 15). The findings suggest that embedded instruction is beneficial for very young L2 learners’ vocabulary learning regardless of the clustering type. Participants gained and retained over time considerable receptive and productive vocabulary knowledge for both semantic and thematic clustered words, indicating that embedding vocabulary in storybook contexts may reduce the potential for interference between target words in semantic clusters.

Impact of School from Home in Teaching and Learning English for Young Learners

The objectives of this study were to examine the impact of school from home in teaching and learning English for young learners. This study employed a case study approach, which is an embedded single-case design. A set of questionnaires was distributed to twelve young learners in the fourth grade of an elementary school in Singaraja and one English teacher. The young learners in this study were selected with purposive sampling, where participants were selected based on their parents' and teachers’ consent. Furthermore, an interview was also conducted with one English teacher from an elementary school in Singaraja to obtain the supplementary data. The findings indicate that the impact of school from home in teaching and learning English had some positive and negative impacts. Therefore, this study ends with suggestions for teachers and parents during school from home.

The Correlation of Positive Reinforcement, Self-Confidence, and Speaking Performance of English Young Learners

Most teachers may face challenges to teach the students without students’ native language to teach a foreign language. The students may get bored easily and not motivated because they have to listen to more new strange words in every meeting that they do not directly understand the words means. Thus, it needs some strategies to get the better result. Students who like doing things happily need a more relaxing learning situation to join the English classes comfortably. The study aimed to investigate the correlation of verbal, gestural, token reinforcement, speaking performance, and self-confidence. The research method used was a quantitative study with multiple linear regressions. Students of the fifth grade of SD N 1 Wates Undaan Kudus as the population took part in the positive reinforcement, self-confidence, and speaking performance test in teaching English. The data were analyzed through a statistical program of SPSS 22. Thus, there was a correlation between positive reinforcement, speaking performance, and self-confidence. The conclusion is that all positive reinforcement correlates with speaking performance and self-confidence. It means that the positive reinforcement influenced their speaking performance and their self-confidence. It is suggested that the teacher should raise their awareness to motivate students’ speaking skills for better achievement. Besides, teachers’ performance in the classroom activity deals with classroom management, encourages the students to always joyful in learning English materials, provides exercise and group discussion according to their circumstance, and performs various teaching that involves the learner’s role in the classroom activity.

THE USE OF POWERPOINT AS THE INSTRUCTIONAL MEDIA IN TEACHING ENGLISH FOR YOUNG LEARNERS

This research is about the use of powerpoint as the instructional media in teaching english for young learners at the first semester of the sixth grade students of SDN Baros Mandiri 5. The objective of this research are to analyze the use of powerpoint as the instructional media in teaching english for young learners. Data is collected through observation and interview. The reseacher chose class VIB as sample which consisted of 30 students. The data is then analyzed using observation sheets. The observations is began at 08.30 - 09.40 for 2 x 35 minutes with the teaching material "Go Green Save the Earth". Based on the results of media observations in the learning process of children and interviews with teachers, the media used by teachers in class VI is good and effective. The media used is powerpoint which is powerpoint is very helpful for teachers to prepare teaching materials and can help attract students' interest and attention so students can learn well. Keywords: PowerPoint, Young Learners, Instructional Media

The Important Role of English Songs in Learning English For Young Learners

The atmosphere of the class will come alive if the teacher gives life to his class, for example giving encouragement and motivation every day. Teachers must understand how to create effective classes to begin the learning process. The media of the song can be used for learning activities in the classroom. Songs are used to add new vocabulary in English, facilitate the ability to speak, and practice hearing ability. The method used is qualitative with a descriptive approach. The result of this study is to improve the understanding of teachers and young people on the importance of learning from an English song to improve the ability of the English language