Philosopher Ludwig Wittgenstein argued that the world of man is what his language is. Learning a foreign language affects the processes of thinking, features of consciousness. We study a foreign language in order to build a successful career, move to a permanent place of residence in another country; or for the reason that we enjoy learning about another culture. When we teach English to a child, we thus open up all these possibilities for him - with the only difference being that this happens ahead of time, one and a half to two decades before his adult life begins. With knowledge of English, it is much easier to build a career; and if there is a desire, then change your fate by moving to another country. is the key to many doors of their future.

Why should a child learn English

For what other reasons English for children is the best method of intellectual development?

• The age of 4 to 6 years is considered sensitive in terms of learning a foreign language. This means that learning English for children at this age is an order of magnitude easier. The phonetics of the native language has already been mastered, so there is no risk of "mixing" the two languages. Toddlers don't just learn English; they "absorb" it. If mom calls the spoon "the spoon" - this means that this item is called that way. The child does not need to memorize anything additionally, the information settles in the unconscious in blocks. It is especially useful to master at an early age, because then there will be no difficulties with this at school.
• Children who study a foreign language have a higher ability to concentrate. A kid who speaks a foreign language (in particular, English) is distinguished by the ability to understand phenomena more deeply, to delve into their details. For example, having come to a new team, the child will quickly catch the essence of the relationship between other children. Funny stories in a foreign language, interesting exercises - all this develops the child's ability to concentrate.
• One of the main difficulties of learning English in adults is that they transfer the already familiar grammatical structures of their native language to a foreign language - as if under a tracing paper. Children have not had time to develop such stereotypes yet. Therefore, the English language for a child is a completely new sign system, he does not compare its grammar with the turns of his native language, but learns it “from scratch”. He has a "feeling" of foreign speech. Psychologists recommend starting to learn English from scratch for children from the age of 4-5. Already from this age, you can start playing simple games in a foreign language with your child, learn with your baby, master.
• In addition, the baby develops intellectually, learns to think differently. Children who learn a foreign language adapt better to an unusual environment, they are more flexible and relaxed in communication. Learning English is one of the most highly intellectual types of work for the human brain. English for toddlers is not just a rote learning of new vocabulary and grammar; it is the incorporation of a new system of concepts that keeps the developing brain functioning at a high level.

English for a child: teaching principles

There are no children who would be incapable of learning a foreign language. Every kid in childhood spends a titanic work on mastering his native language. Therefore, they are not a fundamentally new area of ​​​​knowledge - compared, for example, with learning to write or arithmetic. A child who has learned to communicate in his native language is equally potentially capable of mastering English.

It happens that at school the kid experiences difficulties with a foreign language. What could be the reasons for the difficulties? How to make learning a foreign language effective for a child? And what is the best way to organize teaching English to beginner children? Let's look at a few fundamental principles.

• One of the fundamental principles is the correctness in the selection of the intensity of training. Teachers agree that for a child aged 2 to 4 years, the duration of an English lesson should be about half an hour. At the age of 4 to 6 years, you can do a little longer - up to 1 hour. As a rule, English lessons for children are held 2-3 times a week. One lesson is usually devoted to a certain topic - family, animals, my house, summer holidays, school life. This lesson contains elements of . Based on the topic of the lesson and the grammatical structure that is introduced in the lesson, the parent or teacher selects the material -,.
• If a younger student has difficulty with English, special attention should be paid to improving his self-esteem. Perhaps the kid is under stress due to high school requirements, the need to "catch up" with more successful classmates. Also, difficulties may arise because the child hears censure much more often than praise. To praise a child means to provide him with the psycho-emotional comfort that is so necessary for learning. It is necessary to convey to the baby the fact that abilities can be developed through training. There are many resources that provide English materials for children online for free. To improve colloquial speech, the student is suitable. Additional classes at home will improve academic performance within the walls of the school.
• The easiest way to teach a child English is through games. The game is the leading activity until the onset of school age, when school takes the place of children's fun. However, younger students still love to frolic and play. Both game activities with the child and will be useful. Competently approaching the teaching of the baby, he will not have to be forced to learn English “under pressure”. The child will look forward to the next lesson. After all, for him this is the time when you can enjoy fun games.
• They also show efficiency - after all, looking at them, the child has fun and simultaneously masters the language. Plots are often based on

Knowledge of foreign languages ​​broadens one's horizons and makes one feel at home anywhere in the world. And what parent does not want their child to have a developed intellect and open doors everywhere? Therefore, more and more children are taught foreign languages ​​from a very young age. It is believed that children are much easier to get used to a foreign culture than an adult. But English for children requires a special teaching methodology, which we will talk about today. We will tell you how to instill in your child an interest in learning and advise on ways in which you can conduct English lessons for children easily and effectively. Let's get started!

As scientists have noted, the peculiarities of children's perception of the world help kids learn foreign languages ​​more easily. Children are open to everything new, and genuine curiosity drives them to learn more and more. The parent can only direct the energy of the child in the right direction. But the question of how old to teach a child to English is very individual.

If we talk about the recommendations of experts, then their opinions also differ. Some scientists recommend conducting the first English lessons with a baby from the age of 3. Other teachers advocate a more conscious age (5-6 years), and still others argue that before 7 you should not even think about foreign languages.

Each theory has its own arguments for and against, but we will not consider them in detail. In any case, only parents decide when to start learning English for their children. Here are some tips to make your choice easier.

1. You should not start learning a second language until your native language is confidently mastered. This also applies to an insufficient vocabulary, and incorrect pronunciation, and violations of the logical connections "subject-designation".
2. If the child is not yet actively seeking to explore the world, it is better to wait a while until the natural need for knowledge appears.
3. If, on the contrary, the baby shows excessive activity, then you should definitely pay his attention to entertaining English lessons.
4. Think about how psychologically you yourself begin teaching English for a kid. At the same time, parents should understand that their children are influenced by their own example. At a minimum, it is desirable that you know English at a beginner level or expand your knowledge with your children.

If you cannot make a decision, even after carefully weighing all the pros and cons, conduct a trial lesson with your child. The baby will not like it - well, then it's not time yet. And if the child remains delighted, then all parental doubts will immediately disappear. Don't be afraid to try and don't rely too much on expert opinion. All people are individual, and it is never too late to start learning.

Thus, with the age of young students, we theoretically figured it out. Now let's move on to more practical issues, and analyze in detail the methods and recommendations for teaching English to children of different ages.

English for kids 3-4 years old

This age is the most optimal if you decide to start learning English with a child “from the cradle”. During this period, children turn into active "why" and they are interested in almost everything around. At the same time, babies think in bright and simple images that help them memorize new information easily and quickly. Therefore, foreign language lessons for children 2.5 - 4 years old will certainly bear fruit. But it is very important to choose the right format for English lessons for kids.

Where to begin

Little children are carefree and spontaneous, so it is not necessary to meticulously explain the rules of the language to them. English lessons for children should take place exclusively in a playful way: your child should not feel any moralizing, coercion and demands. With a violent approach, you will not only not teach a child anything, but also vice versa, you will form a hated attitude towards any foreign languages. Therefore, be very careful: let the lessons be spontaneous and 10-15 minutes in the form of a game rather than 30-minute lessons in the full sense of the word.

If we talk about where to start the process of learning English with children, then there are many options. Among them:

• Alphabet;
• Greeting phrases;
• Designations of family members;
• Numbers, colors, etc.

But again, do not count on strict and consistent classes, as in adults. Try to suggest topics that are interesting to the child, for example, learning words about animals or colors in English together. Say the word, and let the baby repeat after you, or, for example, show a card with such a picture.

In general, the presentation of the material should be very dynamic and varied. Do not make the baby bored, and even more so tired of long explanations. Try to use fun and playful ways to teach English to young children. We have listed some of them below.

Songs

Educational songs are one of the best ways to teach English to young children. Funny music quickly attracts children's attention and activates auditory memory. So the guys have fun and at the same time easily and quickly memorize English vocabulary.

It is also very effective to include videos with songs for kids. A vivid video sequence illustrating the plot of the song will attract even more attention and help to include visual memory in the work. And after a couple of training sessions, go on to independently perform songs with your child. You can also add funny dances or play with the image of the objects / animals that are discussed in the song.

In general, such entertaining lessons will form the following skills in children:

• Interest in learning foreign languages;
• Knowledge of English words;
• Ability to recognize English speech by ear;
• The ability to speak independently (repeating memorized phrases).

And, of course, the children will improve the work of memory and the general development of intelligence.

Fairy tales

Another effective method with which you can effectively teach English to children up to 7 years old. What child does not like to hear about the adventures of fairy-tale heroes, especially when mom or dad talk about them.

Other English topics: Irregular English verbs - table with translation Grade 6

Read fairy tales to your baby, as you always do, only now slowly add elements of the English language to them. First, one or two words that are familiar to the child, and later try to work with adapted versions of English fairy tales. Be sure to read the texts playfully: with a change in voice, showing scenes, gestures, etc. The brighter the images, the more interesting it is for children.

Games

And the favorite pastime of the children is outdoor games, fun and logical guessing games. All these elements must also be actively used when teaching English to children.

The simplest thing is to guess English words for your baby using learning cards. You show a card and the child calls it (or vice versa). Another fun game: the parent depicts a fairy-tale hero, animal, bird or object, and the kid must name the hidden character in English. You can also just walk on the street, and name the colors of the surrounding objects.

There are many options, the only thing I would like to note is that we would not recommend accustoming a baby to electronic games at this age. Do not leave the upbringing of children to computers, tablets and other gadgets. Only by your own positive example and participation will you be able to invest the best knowledge and skills in your child.

English for children 5-7 years old

Preschoolers have not yet lost their children's interest in the world around them, but they are already more serious than three- and four-year-olds. Therefore, many parents believe that this is the best age to start learning English. The lessons of preschool children are also held in a playful way and do not take much time, but the methods of learning English for preschool children, of course, are slightly different.

Vocabulary

English lessons for children from 5 years old are always, for the most part, acquaintance with new words. The grammar of the English language for this age is still heavy, and the letters are too simple. So this period is ideal for the formation of an active vocabulary in a child.

It is better for preschoolers to study vocabulary on certain topics. It is good if these are vocabulary cards with bright pictures that reveal the meaning of the word. Firstly, a beautiful design in itself will attract children's attention, and secondly, with a picture, the word is corny easier to remember. In addition, exciting educational games can be played with cards, but more on that later.

Also, vocabulary is mastered in the process of studying nursery rhymes, songs, fairy tales.

Dialogues

To prevent your child from forgetting the learned vocabulary, add more English phrases to your conversations. For example, instead of saying good morning, say " Goodmorningmyson (mydaughter)”, provoking the child to also answer in English. Of course, you should not go too far and constantly communicate in a foreign language. It is enough for a day to use a few popular phrases.

Also, English lessons for children 6 years and older can be carried out by playing small scenes. For example, you can use hand puppets and repeat the lines of characters from your favorite fairy tales. Or just play with puppets, making up a simple conversation:

• -hello!
• -hi!
• -Mynameis… etc.

It is desirable that the parent speaks the line first, and the child repeats after him, substituting the characteristics of his character.

cartoons

First of all, foreign language classes should be interesting for the children themselves. And teaching English cartoons will perfectly help parents in developing interest in learning in preschoolers.

Turn on small colorful videos and watch them with your baby. Fortunately, today on the Internet you can easily find an instructional video in English for children of any age. At the same time, it is not at all necessary to explain in detail to the child that we are not just watching a cartoon, but are learning a new language. Give the kid time, and he himself will be involved in the process and will be able to understand the simplest remarks of the characters. Then the task of the parent is to make a small discussion after watching and reinforcing the vocabulary heard.

With the right approach, such entertaining English lessons for children of five or six years old are simply irreplaceable. After all, such activities arouse interest in the baby and help develop all the necessary speech skills:

• A set of new vocabulary;
• English listening comprehension;
• Speaking (repeat phrases + discussion with parents);
• Correct pronunciation.

In addition, this technique is very useful for general development, because. cartoons reveal everyday moments and explain important life principles to children in an accessible form.

Games

As with toddlers, English for 5 or 6 year olds is always taught in a playful way. Therefore, organize various mini-games, contests or competitions more often.

So, with the help of cards you can play " guess the odd one»: 3 cards are laid out on one topic, and a fourth is added from another deck. The task of the child is to remove the unnecessary card. There is an interesting variation of this memory game: 3-4 cards are laid out in a row, then the child closes his eyes, and the parents remove 1 card. The kid must accurately name which card was removed.

You can also play with preschoolers in " who knows more words», « guess faster», « Freeze sea figure», « crocodile" etc. The main thing is not to forget that victory and parental praise are very important for kids. Therefore, often affectionately address the child, cheer him up if he loses, and admire his successes when the baby wins. A warm attitude and interesting games, and even more victories in them, motivate the child to study English more and more often.

This is how they teach English for children 7 years old. In fact, at preschool age, children only get acquainted with the language, get used to its sound and new words. But the role of such an easy game is very important: it liberates the kids, and subsequently they will not have a language barrier, i.e. fear of speaking in a foreign language. On the contrary, a second language will be perceived as a natural and necessary thing.

English for younger students

And finally, the final period of childhood refers to elementary school. Here the task of the parent is to do more with the child, explaining the points of the school curriculum that have not been considered. At school, the teacher often does not have time to explain the lesson in an accessible way, and the 1st grade student is not always able to concentrate and understand the material. Therefore, carefully monitor the school success of the baby and help to deal with the curriculum.

Other English topics: English fairy tales with Russian translation for toddlers and older children

In general, English for children aged 7-10 also partly takes place in the format of a game, but with the active introduction of serious grammatical points. At this age, the conscious formation of language skills begins, so classes should be aimed at the comprehensive development of the child.

Reading

In our first English classes at school, of course, we learn letters and their pronunciation. This step is necessary because not all children studied a foreign language before entering the first grade. Then, according to the curriculum, there are reading rules, but in fact they are taught in a very crumpled way, and children do not have time to fully master such an important topic. Therefore, this moment is replenished in homework.

Conduct training gradually, mastering with the baby no more than 1-2 rules per lesson. Such small loads will not settle as an unbearable burden and, taking into account regular repetitions, will significantly improve the child in English. Over the weekend, improve your reading skills with short, adapted texts for elementary school children. They will help to consolidate the learned rules and get acquainted with new vocabulary.

Dialogues

It's no secret that a language is designed to be spoken. Therefore, foreign speech must be constantly practiced in conversation.

Of course, for first-graders, such a task will be too difficult, but for students of the 2nd grade, perhaps, they are already able to independently compose a sentence from several words. But remember that classes should not be forced: English for children of the age of 8 is still the same game. Therefore, just occasionally, according to the mood of the child, exchange a couple of common phrases with him or play “ name/describe the subject". For this game, knowledge of the simplest structures is enough:

• Itisabanana. Thisbananaisyellow. Ilikeitverymuch. And what is it? —This is a banana. This banana is yellow. I really like him. What is it?

Such a dialogue, with the proper level of training, is within the power of even a 5-year-old kid, to say nothing of second-graders. And by the age of ten, the guys will be quite able to compose common sentences and use basic English tenses.

Grammar

Learning grammar rules is the very moment when English for schoolchildren ceases to be an entertaining game. For most children, grammar is difficult, which is the fault of both short school lessons and not always clear explanations of teachers. Therefore, grammar topics should be worked out intensively in homework.

English grammar for children 7-9 years old is taught in a semi-game form. The basic rule is briefly explained and then it is reinforced by reading short stories, speaking dialogues and doing exercises. At the same time, the material is presented in the most simplified form: at the initial stage, children do not need to know exceptions and special cases, because. Extra information will only confuse the child.

It is also recommended to use electronic materials for studying grammar. These can be presentations, tutorial videos, mini-games, and quizzes. The more diverse the presentation of the topic, the more parts of the brain are included in the work, and, accordingly, the material is easier for children to assimilate. The main thing to remember is that any rule must not only be learned, but also be able to use it in speech.

Tests

Junior schoolchildren also cannot do without control work to check the topics studied.

Toddlers in grades 1-2 are usually given a short oral survey, which is not much different from playing dialogues. Also, the guys solve very easy tests. For children 9-10 years old, they give more difficult work: correct specially made mistakes, answer a question, make a proposal on their own. Tests are becoming more diverse, now the tasks require not just choosing an answer, but supplementing it with your own words.

But starting from the age of 12 or even 11, when tenses and irregular verbs are actively mastered, almost every lesson ends with tests. And this is the right approach, because. every detail of the theory studied must be worked out in practice.

Children, of course, perceive checks without enthusiasm. But the task of parents is to convince the child that he can easily cope with the tasks, because he is smart and capable. Praise more often and show less severity to the mistakes made. It is better to calmly explain what the child was wrong about and do the work again later than to shout and develop in children a hatred of learning.

Games and websites

Everyone loves to have fun, so the game technique is effective for children at 3 years old, and at 9 years old, and even at all 15-16. For younger groups, it is recommended to conduct more outdoor and oral games, and English for children from 10 years old can be diversified with the help of electronic games and applications. However, in moderation, the computer will not harm the kids either.

Here are some fun ways to teach English to children of all ages. Good luck in your studies and see you soon!

The LinguaLeo service allows you to learn English in a playful way. Lots of interesting exercises to practice reading, listening comprehension, learning and memorizing new words - all with the help of Leo the lion cub. Points here are awarded in the form of meatballs, in order to move from one level to another, you need to earn a certain number of meatballs. It is fun and usually liked by children - an incentive to progress in their studies.
You can learn English online or offline.

Free version:
no access to some workout options, limited number of words that can be added to the dictionary, and no access to basic grammar rules. But you can use the "For children" section in the "Materials" - there are educational cartoons, songs, poems for kids.

Paid version:
you will have access to all sections, except for individual specialized courses. Several courses (at the choice of developers) will be included in your premium access, but the rest will have to be purchased separately. True, there is a plus - so you will definitely choose exactly what you need.
For example, there is a course "English for the little ones", in which children are asked to learn the alphabet and memorize basic words and simple sentences about the family and their feelings and sensations.

Price: from 299 to 1690 rubles. You can choose to pay monthly or yearly. Courses are paid once and remain available forever.
The site often has discounts dedicated to different dates, so there is an opportunity to save money - subscribe to the newsletter and you will be able to find out about price reductions.

Application "English for kids with Benny"
3-8 years old

Benny the Elephant helps children learn how colors, numbers, clothes, fruits and food, animals are called in English, how to properly call their family members, and how to say hello. Cute pictures, correct pronunciation of words, 14 topics (numbers, colors, greetings, family, food, fruits, animals, toys, house, clothes, body, transport, nature, dishes) and fun games. In this application, the developers give the kids the opportunity to help the heroes of the game, and this causes additional interest and incentive to move on.
In the "Greetings" theme, the child is waiting for several dialogues with the participation of Benny the elephant, and the rest of the topics are built according to one template. Each has four sections-windows: in the first, learning and listening to words and memorizing spelling are given, and in the rest, the baby must go through a mini-game in order to better remember the material covered.

Free version:
you can look and play with the "Cheers" and "Animals" sections.

Paid version: all topics.
Price: from 75 to 149 rubles. You can choose all the themes or one of the combinations (the combination includes 2-3 themes of the developer's choice).

Fun English app | Learn English
3-8 years old

Here, a cute cat acts as an assistant in training. Each lesson consists of 6 games, you can learn the English names of numbers, actions, body parts, sea animals, clothes, vehicles, etc. By the way, the same cat helps to learn French, Spanish and Chinese in other applications of the same developer.
Feature - the words are voiced by male and female voices with American and British pronunciation. This helps children learn to listen to differences in pronunciation and reproduce different accents on their own.
An additional bonus in the games is pleasant background music, sound effects and songs. Bright pictures and clear graphics will attract the attention of the baby, and illustrations for words will help to remember them better.

Free version: 2 sections consisting of 16 games will be available to you.

Paid version: all sections and lessons.
Price: From $3.99 to $21.99. Developers give you the opportunity to buy themes individually or in sets (it's cheaper, but you need to choose the option that suits you).

Website "We play ourselves"
3-8 years old

The app is for PC only.
You can learn the alphabet and practice the correct verbs during the game. The games are quite simple, but they cope with the task of memorizing verbs and memorizing the alphabet. The main thing is that classes are regular.
To make the passage of games more interesting, the developers came up with a system of points, when points are awarded for the correct answer, points are removed for the wrong answer, and if you need a hint, you will have to “pay” with earned points.

There are 5 games to learn regular verbs:
· option- choose the correct translation option for the proposed verb;
· true False- the child determines whether the game offers him the correct translation of the verb or not;
· mosaic- there are English verbs and a Russian translation on the playing field, the child needs to connect them in pairs;
· writing– using the keyboard, write in English the verb shown on the screen in Russian;
· pronunciation- listen to the spoken verb, understand what kind of word it is, and find the correct option in the proposed variants of Russian verbs.

These games can be completed in 3 difficulty levels - the smallest should start with an easy one, and then gradually complicate the tasks.
There are 2 difficulty levels in the alphabet learning game. In the first case, you need to arrange the English letters in the order they go alphabetically (A, B, C, D), in a more complex version - in reverse order (D, C, B, A). If the letter is put correctly, the program will pronounce it in English so that the child remembers the correct sound.

Completely free version.
You can even download the alphabet simulator to your computer so as not to depend on the Internet. Verbs can only be learned online.

English app for kids by PMG
4-12 years old

The authors decided to focus on grammar and created lessons that allow you to learn the basic grammar rules in a playful way and replenish your vocabulary. To make it more interesting to study, for completed tasks, children receive coins, which can be used to buy games built into the application. This encourages students to take lessons for the highest marks - after all, the higher the score, the more coins. And the regularity of training is ensured - the “lesson-game” bundle is a good idea so that the children return to study again and again.
The application is voiced by native speakers, so children will form the correct pronunciation from the very beginning. Lessons are organized by topic, if something goes wrong with the task, the child will be able to use the hint.

Free version: you can complete the first 3 lessons.

Paid version: from 4 to 24 lesson or 2 sets of lessons, completed at the choice of the developer.
Price: 459 rubles each package or 699 rubles from 4 to 24 lessons. There is an opportunity to save on package purchases, so choose the option that suits you.

Learn English app with Lingo Arcade
4+. The application will also be useful for adults who have taken up language learning for the first time.
There are similar developer applications for learning French, Spanish and German.

The application consists of 4 games, during which the child learns more than 3000 words and expressions in English. To make it easier for the student to remember, the developers selected 3,000 photographs illustrating the words and situations that are proposed to be learned.
So that the interest in the game does not fade away, the developers have created more than 150 levels in games and continue to come up with new ones. If it’s more convenient for you to take classes on your phone and tablet alternately, you can easily do it - the progress is automatically synchronized.
The main feature of the application is that the child will memorize the words associated with the picture. Such a stable mental association makes memorization easier and in the future will allow you to quickly recall the right word or expression - when you look at the corresponding object or situation, the English version will pop up in your memory by itself.

Free version: one level.

Paid version: other. Now there are more than 150 of them, new ones are constantly being added.
Price: unlimited access $11.99; unlock 20 levels $1.39.

Monkey Junior app: learn to read
3-6 years old
There are similar developer apps for learning Spanish, Chinese, French and Vietnamese. Programs for teaching other languages ​​are being prepared.

The creators of Monkey Junior focused on the ability to read in English. The curriculum is divided into three reading levels: easy, intermediate and advanced. The lessons are about 10 minutes long and each consists of game pieces, reading passages, memorization vocabulary and quizzes.
The program uses images, sounds and interaction with the screen through touch, which allows you to captivate the child. To illustrate the words and sentences, the developers included 6,000 images, 2,000 interactive videos, and 10,000 audio files in Monkey Junior.
The program was created for learning English, but along the way, children will be able to learn interesting facts and animals, about the world around them, some scientific facts, etc. The courses were created using the early development methodology of Glenn Doman, as well as the multivalued learning method of Robert K. Titzer.
A large selection of courses will allow you to choose exactly the one that will be of interest to your child (depending on the level of preparation). Courses are constantly updated with new lessons. In addition, the program includes a guide for parents on how to teach children to read.

Free version: a few trial lessons.

Paid version: depending on the selected and paid subscription. You can purchase all courses if you and your child like it.
Price: from 50 to 2,990.09 rubles per unit.

ABC Games for Kids App-EduKittyABC
4-6 years old

Lots of fun songs and games to help you learn the English alphabet and basic vocabulary. Spelling training - children will be able to learn how to write letters (uppercase and lowercase) and read what is written, thanks to the puzzle, voiced by professional speakers. Very bright and multi-color graphics, as well as funny characters attract the attention of children.
There are also flash cards in the application that allow you to better memorize words and at the same time train your memory and reaction; game "find a pair" - you need to find matching letters or images of animals (their names are signed in English); a game based on matching lowercase and uppercase letters and much more.
There are 14 educational games in total, 3 sets of voice flash cards and voice acting in 12 languages, including Russian.

Free version: several trial levels + built-in ads.

Paid version: all games and no ads.
Price: 6,99 $.

Little Speller App - Three Letter Words LITE - Free Educational Game for Kids
2-6 years old

Little Speller is an interactive game in which a child learns to read, write and pronounce words with just one finger. The interface of the application is very simple, the developers claim that even 9-month-old children can play this game.
The main feature is that you can customize the game yourself: add your own pictures, words, sound prompts. The kid will be able to learn English by hearing the familiar speech of mom and dad, and not someone's unfamiliar voices. If among the pictures offered in the game there are items that you do not like for any reason, you can delete them - the application allows this.
The application has sound, visual and written prompts, which you can also customize yourself. Depending on which side of learning you want to strengthen (listening, reading, reproducing words and letters), you can turn off some tips and turn on others.

Completely free version.

Kids Phonics A-Z, Alphabet, Letter Sounds Learning App
4-6 years old

Somewhere and once there was a beautiful island inhabited exclusively by animals. It was almost impossible for people to get there - only once a year one person from all mankind could be there to tell everyone else about the beauties of this wonderful place. But one day such a visitor angered the animals that lived on the island, and they did not invite anyone else. Meanwhile, somewhere in one of the hills a certain treasure is hidden...
This story was invented by the developers to lure children on a journey. While children help Abby the monkey to travel around the island on a train in search of treasure, they learn to recognize the sound of letters, track uppercase and lowercase letters, match letters, learn the English names of the animals they meet. Interest is supported by mini-games, stickers with awards, bright graphics and voice acting, in which, in addition to the correct pronunciation, there are also sounds made by animals.

Completely free version.

Children learn English in elementary school, but how many of them can speak it? Alas, most are not able to use knowledge in real communication even after graduation. Absolutely everyone speaks English at the YES Center, starting from the first year of study, from the first lessons.

The course does not replace the school curriculum, but compensates for its shortcomings. It opens up new perspectives for the child, gives deeper knowledge and prepares to communicate with people anywhere in the world.

Cons of the school curriculum

Why are extracurricular English classes necessary for children aged 6-10? The peculiarities of mass education and the practice of evaluating results according to formal criteria have led to the fact that at school English as a subject is taught in the same way as native Russian: the structure of vocabulary, laws, and exceptions are clarified. But its peculiarity is that children do not know the language, the rules of which are taught. The process goes "from the opposite" and therefore is ineffective.

It is more natural to teach in a different way: first, talk the child into typical lexical constructions, then systematize what is known and gradually add new words and rules, without interrupting this process from intensive speech practice.

The same goes for reading and writing. Where does the curriculum begin? From learning the alphabet. Imagine that you offered a non-speaking two-year-old child to learn the alphabet of their native language, and then taught him to speak. It is in this position that an elementary school student finds himself, having come to the first English lessons.

In primary school, children have to memorize vocabulary without sufficient verbal support. In conversational practice, ready-made dialogues predominate, there is a shortage of impromptu communication, detailed answers.

An attempt to go against the laws of nature gives bitter results - school graduates read and translate well, but are not able to initiate and maintain the simplest conversation with a foreigner.

5 secrets of teaching English to younger students at the YES Center

There are a number of rules, organizational and methodological, that turn the study of English by younger students into an exciting and productive process. An additional effect of our classes is inspiration, openness and self-confidence. Many believe that this is even more valuable than knowledge of the language, and we are ready to agree with this.

Secrets of successful learning according to the YES Language Center:

1. Parsing the structure of language follows speech, and not vice versa. Children first learn to speak, communicate, share thoughts and emotions, and then they figure out the patterns of grammar, the rules of writing and reading.
2. The immersion technique allows you to simplify the perception of a foreign language, as it is as close as possible to how children learn their native speech.
3. Limiting the number of students in a group (no more than eight) makes it possible for the teacher to get to know the interests and characteristics of each child, which will certainly be taken into account when choosing relevant lexical topics.
4. There is no practice of counting errors and scoring. Activity, overcoming are welcomed, and successes make the student rejoice and be proud of himself - this is cooler than the top five in the magazine.
5. Any initiatives towards learning and using the language are supported. We always help students in the implementation of real and educational projects.

If a student enrolls in our courses, he will certainly speak English and know the language to a greater extent than provided by the school curriculum.

When to send a younger student to English courses?

The earlier the better. Frankly speaking, it would be good to teach a child to speak English a year or two before entering the first grade, so that he would already feel the language by school. Already having such a base, it is logical to start studying linguistic structures.

If this fails, no problem. You can contact the Language Center at any time. In teaching younger students, we take into account the specifics of the period and in some way coordinate our program with the school program so that they do not conflict, but support each other. If at school the teacher does not have the opportunity to deviate from the program and give the child more attention, give him more language practice, then we have both the opportunity and an excellent methodology.

The goal of our training is for children to master the language for full communication, without embarrassment to use it when necessary.

In what grade will your child start taking English courses?

First class: conversational ahead

Considering that the English language is introduced in the second grade, starting from the first grade is a very good option. In this case, it is possible to build the correct chain: first listening, speaking, communication, then grammar, reading and writing.

With us, a child plunges into the language environment “with his head” and perceives a new language for himself as a discovery of new opportunities. First-graders are taught intensively in order to reach a good level by the time the school program is connected.

By the end of the first year of study at the Center, children are confidently talking to each other. They have studied several lexical topics and feel free within this topic. They do not yet know the rules of grammar, but they feel the logic of statements on an intuitive level, due to a large and varied practice. The child is ready to perceive the school curriculum, to structure the acquired knowledge.

This does not mean that education at the Center should not be continued through the second grade and beyond. Nowhere else will he receive such voluminous, emotional, fruitful support. In the future, we will bring him to a positive perception of writing and reading, we will establish bright grammatical patterns, his speech will continuously develop, and his vocabulary will be enriched. Unique technique - unique result.

The beginnings of grammar, writing and reading are introduced after reaching the minimum required conversational base (ideally, if the child has received oral training at preschool age, then he will get a lot of practice in spoken English, his active (active!) Vocabulary contains vocabulary on several relevant topics. The child is ready for structuring the acquired knowledge.

Second Grade: Parallel Learning

A child who starts studying English in our courses from the second grade has time to get the initial speaking practice in the first two or three months, while the alphabet is being studied at school. By the time of analyzing the grammatical features of English, he had already gained experience in speaking and using the language to achieve his goals, to express desires and thoughts. He felt the simplicity and clarity of communication. It is easier for him than for non-speaking classmates - at least he understands what language they have begun to study.

In the future, active language practice in the courses continues, and this is so lacking at school.

Third-fourth grade: another level

Is your child enrolled in third grade? The stage of advanced study of oral English has been missed, but there is a great opportunity to take learning to a new level.

At school, they study according to a formal program, in which visualization, visualization and game moments in the lesson correspond to age characteristics to a greater or lesser extent, but there is no natural sequence of acquaintance with the language and the proportions of grammar and detailed initiated conversation are violated.

If we take each student separately, then how many minutes does he speak in the lesson himself? Simple arithmetic shows that no more than a minute or two. Sometimes he does not manage to say a single word for the whole lesson, unless he repeats after the teacher along with everyone else, but this cannot be considered an active use of the language. How can you speak without saying anything? How to understand grammar without putting it into practice?

When teaching English to younger students, we see how happy they are to find themselves in that communication environment where the difficult turns out to be simple and understandable, where they speak themselves, and not just listen to the teacher and write down. Where they spend time cheerfully and with undeniable benefits.

There are no more than 8 people in the group, the teacher knows everyone and organizes classes so that the children speak continuously, on topics that are clearly interesting to them. They quickly reach the level of fluent spontaneous speech.

Everything that the child misunderstood from the school curriculum is presented differently, vividly, with examples. Grammar constructions are immediately played out in practice, their patterns become clear and not just memorized, but become part of the active language.

English for life

In order for English to truly become a second language for a child, a younger student needs to learn it in an immersive atmosphere and use it constantly. Such conditions are created in the YES Center. Give your child a second language of communication in which he will speak easily and competently.