Active learning - Use of rhyme and song

Children learn in many different ways and have different learning styles. Opportunities for children to experience language through song and rhyme, storytelling and games offer children ways to interact with the new language and with one another in a dynamic and social environment.

Through active methods and physical response children feel safe to explore and experiment with the new sounds. For those who prefer to listen and observe, they absorb the new language by watching others and gradually increase in confidence, until they too are joining in, responding to what they hear and see and engaging with others in short conversations and role-play.

Family song

Children practise singing a song in German about brothers and sisters with a visiting teacher. After introducing the activity in German, involving all of them by asking ‘Ist das OK?, the teacher puts them at ease by telling them to take a deep breath, smile, say 1,2,3 and off they go. Notice the subtle way in which the teacher hesitates in order to encourage the children to join in saying 1,2,3.