How does Children's English help Japanese children?
Hi, everyone.
Today I'd like to write about my thoughts on children's English for Japanese based on my experiences of learning children's English with my sons for some years.
I have two sons, the eldest is 6 years old and in the 1st grade at elementary school, and the second son is 3 years old and going to kindergarten. My eldest son has been going to English school for almost 3 years. My second son is slow in language development, so he has been going there taking breaks depending on his condition.
I have also been learning English specializing in it for a long time, but I started to learn English at a cram school when I was in the 5th grade of elementary school. Time has changed, and it has become quite common for us to let our children start learning English early.
To be honest, I was not completely comfortable about letting my sons learn English conversation so early at first. Particularly, I was nervous wondering if it might be hindrance against learning correct Japanese.
However, there is no doubt that Japanese people will definitely need English proficiency in the future, and still I didn't want my sons to take pains in listening to and pronouncing English like me, so I decided to let them go to English school. It was Step By Step Eikaiwa in Takase, Mitoyo City in Kagawa prefecture.
I took my eldest son to the English school because the Christmas party was held there when he was 3 years old. My eldest son likes music, and had fun in listening to live Christmas songs with the guitar, and wanted to take lessons. So I let him go there.
My eldest son's English school prepares abundant original songs and animation materials, so he kept going there for a long time though he usually gets tired of things easily.
I believe it is best to start English learning with music, so I was glad to hear my eldest son singing English songs joyfully. He imitated his teacher singing along his guitar, enjoyed nourishing his phonic organs to listen to and pronounce English with, and acquired the phonemic system and rhythms which are characteristic to English.
Also, he was interested and participated in many events such as cooking classes, Halloween parties, Easter parties, and Christmas parties, and spent good time enjoying international atmosphere.
Since he started going there, I heard some criticism saying he had better learn Japanese first before learning English.
Today I'd like to write about my thoughts on children's English for Japanese based on my experiences of learning children's English with my sons for some years.
I have two sons, the eldest is 6 years old and in the 1st grade at elementary school, and the second son is 3 years old and going to kindergarten. My eldest son has been going to English school for almost 3 years. My second son is slow in language development, so he has been going there taking breaks depending on his condition.
I have also been learning English specializing in it for a long time, but I started to learn English at a cram school when I was in the 5th grade of elementary school. Time has changed, and it has become quite common for us to let our children start learning English early.
To be honest, I was not completely comfortable about letting my sons learn English conversation so early at first. Particularly, I was nervous wondering if it might be hindrance against learning correct Japanese.
However, there is no doubt that Japanese people will definitely need English proficiency in the future, and still I didn't want my sons to take pains in listening to and pronouncing English like me, so I decided to let them go to English school. It was Step By Step Eikaiwa in Takase, Mitoyo City in Kagawa prefecture.
Easter Party Mar. 2016
I took my eldest son to the English school because the Christmas party was held there when he was 3 years old. My eldest son likes music, and had fun in listening to live Christmas songs with the guitar, and wanted to take lessons. So I let him go there.
My eldest son's English school prepares abundant original songs and animation materials, so he kept going there for a long time though he usually gets tired of things easily.
I believe it is best to start English learning with music, so I was glad to hear my eldest son singing English songs joyfully. He imitated his teacher singing along his guitar, enjoyed nourishing his phonic organs to listen to and pronounce English with, and acquired the phonemic system and rhythms which are characteristic to English.
Also, he was interested and participated in many events such as cooking classes, Halloween parties, Easter parties, and Christmas parties, and spent good time enjoying international atmosphere.
Cooking Class Aug. 2016
Since he started going there, I heard some criticism saying he had better learn Japanese first before learning English.
But my eldest son's teacher praised him at the parent-teacher meeting held for the first graders at the end of the first semester, saying "He was very good at reciting the textbook in the classes of Japanese, and he made our classes pleasant." I was very glad to hear that.
Through these experiences, I became to believe that the benefits of children's English are not limited to English proficiency, but more foundamental, liberal expressiveness, essential language competence, the sense of self-affirmation and volunteering spirits.
My eldest son has also taken the English course of Benesse once before, and he was particularly fond of DVD materials. Their course for elementary school students provide us with interactive materials that can be used with computers, and he took online lessons and learned some English words with computers.
Now my second son also started to sing English songs playing the guitar when he watches videos showing some friends of mine playing the guitar.
My second son is slow in language development compared with his contemporaries, but he is motivated to associate with other people. So he never hesitates to say 'Hello' to foreign teachers.
Nowadays there are more and more Japanese children who cannot greet spontaneously even toward Japanese people. I believe my second son, though he might not be very good at speaking yet, has much potential with such a strong individuality.
My eldest son took to soccer when he became a first grader, and he became busy practicing and feels he has little free time to spend with his family. So we decided to put an end to going to the English school in the end of October. Still, he is interested in international events, so we will continue to participate in them. His interest in English and the world is still remaining, so I want to support his study from now on.
My eldest son has also taken the English course of Benesse once before, and he was particularly fond of DVD materials. Their course for elementary school students provide us with interactive materials that can be used with computers, and he took online lessons and learned some English words with computers.
Now my second son also started to sing English songs playing the guitar when he watches videos showing some friends of mine playing the guitar.
My second son is slow in language development compared with his contemporaries, but he is motivated to associate with other people. So he never hesitates to say 'Hello' to foreign teachers.
Santa Visits Home Dec. 2016
Nowadays there are more and more Japanese children who cannot greet spontaneously even toward Japanese people. I believe my second son, though he might not be very good at speaking yet, has much potential with such a strong individuality.
My eldest son took to soccer when he became a first grader, and he became busy practicing and feels he has little free time to spend with his family. So we decided to put an end to going to the English school in the end of October. Still, he is interested in international events, so we will continue to participate in them. His interest in English and the world is still remaining, so I want to support his study from now on.
My eldest son has been going to the English school for almost 3 years to acquire a strong motivation to learn a second language. Though I might be overestimating him a little bit, but this experience will bring him passion for his further study at school.
I'm intending to continue writing about children's English here. Thank you so much for reading till the end.
Eriko
Japanese version;
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