Vacations are an invaluable and necessary period for everyone, much more for children who will start a new school year, with new challenges and satisfactions, therefore, we want to talk about English classes for children and the indispensable tool they represent in this back to school.
When a new year begins, we are generally in expectation of what it may represent for our children, not only because they will have new teachers, but because all their anatomy and physiology changes as time goes by. Thus, the children you enrolled in third grade are completely different when they are about to start fourth grade. Each cycle allows them to grow, acquire new knowledge and develop different skills, while defining their tastes and passions.
To help them in this important process, you need to give them all the tools at your disposal, so that their learning is as rich and diverse as possible, because in tomorrow’s world they will use everything they learn today. One of those tools is the mastery of English as a second language, which is where the importance of English courses for children lies.
Why are after-school English classes for children an indispensable tool this back-to-school season?
Encouraging the learning of a second language will be the factor that will make the difference in their future, as it will help them develop personally, academically and professionally. However, English classes for children have other benefits, such as cognitive development, improved communication skills and better critical thinking skills.
English courses for children help develop several areas of the brain, including the left hemisphere, where creativity originates. In addition, they will be able to quickly raise their level of understanding of various topics that they will encounter more quickly in the second language. In addition, they will improve their academic performance in other areas, since the classes will be different and they will use other types of teaching strategies that will help them to be more immersed in the experience.
English is considered the “universal” language, as it is used as a standard in business and academic areas that receive international students. Therefore, mastering this second language will give your children the opportunity to access other educational programs, exchanges and specialized schools, opening a huge range of possibilities for growth.
By learning English during childhood, you will help your children to perfect their command of the language from the very beginning. In addition, combining the mother tongue with a foreign language will facilitate cognitive development, multiplying synaptic and neuronal connections, resulting in an agile mind that will provide advantages in the rest of the learning areas. It will also help you to know and understand other cultures.
Why enroll children in an after-school English course?
Infants must have routines that help them to have regularity and structure, therefore, an English course will benefit the use of their time and will turn this learning into something that they will integrate into their lives naturally, avoiding stress and changes, but taking advantage of the excitement for new things. In addition, depending on the teaching system used in the course, your children will find useful tools that they can apply to other subjects, which will benefit their overall academic performance.
Learning English during childhood guarantees better language performance and the acquisition of communication tools valid for the rest of their lives. It will open doors to unknown and incredible worlds and will give them access to different study opportunities that they can take advantage of for further growth in all areas.
However, the greatest advantage is the brain plasticity that children have, especially in preschool and school age. At this stage, the brain is still flexible and can acquire as much information as desired, so everything they learn at that age will be simple, fun and, above all, can be exercised over the years without losing the skills acquired at the beginning.
It is important that, at this stage, we also take care of their emotional development and make sure they have the tools to manage their feelings in the different circumstances they experience. Thus, their growth will be integral and very soon they will be taking important steps towards individuality and independence.
Online or face-to-face English course for children?
Online classes offer benefits such as the avoidance of travel, greater availability of schedules and access to new platforms and technologies. In addition, an online course allows the integration of other skills such as distance concentration and the use of virtual resources.
On the other hand, face-to-face classes have the advantage for children of being able to read the body language of both the teacher and their classmates. Being in a classroom also allows students to interact more freely, exchange ideas and express their thoughts.
What is it and how to achieve self-management of learning with an English course for children?
Children have a very natural innate curiosity that helps them learn about the world and set the limits of their interactions. When they are very young and meet for the first time the slide, the sand, the balls, they discover which is their favorite, in which game they are more skilled and which one causes them unpleasant sensations.
The same happens when learning new things. Although it is not always achieved, the ability to explore and learn should be part of the teaching process, because in this way, what they absorb has to do with their areas of interest, rather than with what they “should” know.
This happens, for example, when they come into contact with a video game or a new toy. Naturally, they will look for everything they can do, what they can gain and all the advantages it has.
So, when they are learning a new language, the idea is to include projects that they can develop individually, that generate interest, through which they can acquire knowledge, vocabulary and cognitive and even motor skills.
For example, an idea to the zoo, which will be the goal, and for which they should develop an investigation of the animals that are there, the care they are given, the reason for having them in that place and what can be done to help conserve their natural habitats. As you become more knowledgeable and interested in the subject, you will have more information at your fingertips and will be able to better enjoy the visit, remembering things you researched and reaffirming your knowledge.
These techniques, which can be included or accompany the English classes you are looking for for your children, will have a significant impact on their later development, as they will become more independent and self-confident. They will be able to perform better in different environments, always seeking to build on their strengths and detecting what they can improve in themselves.
As in all areas, your children’s extracurricular English learning will benefit them in many ways. They will be able to make new friends, learn with different techniques, get to know other cultures and broaden their perspective of the world.
Being outside of school hours and having different activities, it will be a completely different activity and will help build their confidence. It will also help them to know that it’s always good to keep learning!
