Parents often wonder what they can do to support their children’s learning at home. Whether it is math, science or English as a second language, parental involvement in their child’s education is essential to the child’s success in school and in the learning process. This is especially true when the child is learning English, as he/she has very little opportunity to listen to, practice and use English outside of the 3-4 hours per week spent in English class. So, if you’ve been wondering what you can do to help your child learn English, here are some tips you can do at home (or anywhere, really!) that will advance your child’s English skills even faster.
Motivate them through technology
Similarly, and also for older children and teenagers, make sure that your devices and game consoles are set to English and, more importantly, that the game is in English. Few things motivate children and teenagers more than technology. And no wonder: as digital natives, our children’s generation was born into a world where technology is not only everywhere, but indispensable in our daily lives.
Where there is motivation, there is interest and, therefore, better learning. Buy your child’s next video game in English and create the need for him to learn the words used and understand the language being spoken. For older teens, multiplayer video games are a great way for them to practice their English speaking skills with other gamers from around the world who do not speak their language.
Here are a few websites where your children can play games, watch interactive videos and even write stories in English while
while having fun:
It’s not exactly a game, but it’s one of my favorites: a story starter to get children’s imaginations going and inspire them to write a story in English: The Story Starter.
Music is deeply linked to memory
Finally, I want to share one of the most effective yet simple English teaching methods that teachers use in their classrooms: !the songs and rhythms! The music is repetitive and rhythmic, which helps us to learn English more easily and in an enjoyable way.
When a person listens to a song over and over again, he or she begins to learn the words little by little, then the structures, and during this process is learning pronunciation, intonation, rhythm and pitch. In addition, listening to music and singing is fun and motivating for children, as well as a good way for them to gain confidence and practice their speaking skills. Cambridge suggests “for children aged 5 to 11, choosing songs with lots of rhyming words and rhythms that are repeated. This makes it easier for children to learn new words and start singing along.” On the other hand, for older teenagers, songs are the perfect opportunity to combine their interests with learning English. They will definitely be motivated to understand and learner a song in English if you enjoy listening to it. Take a look at Lyrics Training to find a fun and interactive music listening game.
And if you want to go further…
If you are already doing all of the above or just want more ideas to help your child improve their English even more, here are some out-of-the-ordinary ideas you may not have considered:
Sometimes the simple things are the most effective. Simply talking about English classes or learning English helps your child reflect on what he or she has learned and consolidate his or her memory. Ask him about a word he learned that day or a game or activity that made him happy and encourage him to talk.
Get out the label maker (or just use post-its) and help your kids learn the words for the most common objects in English by labeling them. repetition is key to memory retention, so if every time your child wants to use his favorite toy truck, he sees “TRUCK” written on it, he’s sure to remember it and start using it in the future.
Fancy spending some time with your child on a nice Sunday morning? Prepare with them a delicious recipe or a nice craft following the instructions in English. Go to the Highlight Kids youtube channel and search for your favorite recipe or craft; help your child learn basic English instructions and vocabulary, while having fun and learning life skills. Active learning, or learning by doing, is one of the best ways to help your child learn English.
Learning English yourself is the best way to help your child make progress in learning English. Being able to use the language with them is a great opportunity for them to practice their speaking and listening skills. In addition, learning together can be a very motivating experience for children.
And of course… let’s see it in English.
We’ll end with the easiest but also the one that will end up influencing your child quite a bit: put the TV (or streaming platform) in English. During the early development of the child, the brain acquires and develops all the sounds that belong to its mother tongue, so that the child is able to use them in vocal speech.
The brain does this by analyzing everything the child hears and transforming it into mouth movements that the child can imitate to produce a specific sound. How many times did you repeat “mommy” or “daddy” to your child before he or she was able to say it? They have to hear a word said on different occasions, by different people, before they try it. You can help your child learn English by exposing him to the sounds and rhythm of the English language so that it will be easier for him to repeat them in the future. If you think that changing the scenario is not enough, you can try more practical strategies. Help your child become aware of sounds by playing with refrigerator magnets: start with “cat” and then change one letter to make “mat” or “bat.” Children also love silly tongue twisters that unknowingly help them differentiate and practice similar sounds. Another alternative that will be great fun for your children is to make letters with pipe cleaners, plasticine or even food, and practice the sounds with them.
In the end, everything counts and anything you can do at home will help your child develop their English language skills, so try at least one of our tips.
“Tell me and I’ll forget. Show me and I will remember. Involve me and I will learn.”
The way we are taught determines how we retain and consolidate what we learn. With traditional methods, the learner is a passive subject in their own learning process. John Dewey, the prominent American educator, proposed that “if knowledge comes from the impressions that we have of ourselves, then we should be able to know what we know. natural objects do, it is impossible to obtain knowledge without the use of objects that impress the mind”. This approach has been the inspiration for the innovative English teaching method applied at FunTalk.
As children we learn by exploring our surroundings, and many of us continue to learn in this way. Babies do not learn from “tokens” or parental instructions, but from interacting with their environment and having enriching experiences. That is why it is so important in the teaching process to present the student, regardless of age, with situations in which they must take an active role in their learning. And by this we mean teaching through activities where the student must carry out actions or tasks with a certain purpose; in this way, learning is not a destination to be reached, but the road traveled.
This approach is called active learning and has proven to be a particularly effective teaching method, especially in language teaching. H. W. Reese (2011), expounds that “languages are best learned by their use rather than by formal rules”. We can know all the grammatical rules of a language but if we do not apply it to authentic situations, we will not be able to use it as a communicative form. In addition, by engaging in activities where they can create things, use their hands, solve problems, etc., students are much more motivated (Owens, Sadler, Barlow, & Smith-Walters, 2017), which in turn positively affects attention and memory consolidation (Cavenagh, 2016).
For these reasons we are convinced that at FunTalk we have designed an effective, motivating and fun method for all ages to learn English in a memorable and meaningful way. Our dynamic classes offer students communicative contexts in which to learn and practice relevant language. And what makes us unique, our signature workshops, offer students opportunities to learn in real-life situations, not just English, but tools that they can then apply in other contexts in their lives.
In short, our students are happy because they learn in a natural and meaningful way. In addition, our youngest students come with enthusiasm because they do not come to sit in front of a book but to talk, play, create, think, reflect and develop their skills; and parents appreciate that! We are grateful to be able to share our vision with so many families and to see the progress of all our students over time.
During the fifth week of the casal ‘Come to the Movies with FunTalk’ we interpreted the emotions of the characters of the movie Inside Out. The FunTalk Movie Fans danced, painted (including faces), cooked, made crafts, planted, played in the park and most of all had a great time…and of course, all in English!
Here are some pictures of the best summer casal at FunTalk.
During the fourth week of the ‘Come to the Movies with FunTalk’ workshop we played the animals from the movie Madagascar. The FunTalk Movie Fans danced, painted (including faces), cooked, made crafts, planted, played in the park and most of all had a great time…and of course, all in English!
Here are some pictures of the best summer casal at FunTalk.
During the first week of the ‘Come to the Movies with FunTalk’ workshop we played the famous bear who lives in London, Paddington. The FunTalk Movie Fans did many activities such as water games in the park, arts and crafts, painting, cooking, gardening, dancing, and much more…and all in English!
Here are some pictures of the best summer casal at FunTalk.
English in summer for children without leaving Barcelona
The best English summer camp in Sarrià – Sant Gervasi for children. Our experience supports us.
FunTalk’ s English summer camp for children is setting the standard in the city of Barcelona and this year we are also offering our camp in the Sarrià – Sant Gervasi neighborhood. The magic of cinema will be the common thread of this summer camp in English for children that will make our little ones experience the language at the hands of their favorite characters from the big screen.
We are delighted to be able to bring to more parents in Barcelona what they are all looking for for their children: a summer camp in English where children have fun but also learn the language for real.
The English summer camp in Sarrià – Sant Gervasi will take place in the spacious and fabulous Baby Fun Center, near Plaza Molina. In this space we will develop indoor activities ranging from games and crafts, to gardening and arts and crafts. Although we will also take advantage of the good weather to do many outdoor activities in the park, including water games.
Check out all the practical information about the English summer camp in Sarrià – Sant Gervasi in the section below.
Sign your child up now for the best English summer camp in Barcelona! Now also in Sarrià – Sant Gervasi.
A summer camp in English in Sarrià for children, led by the magic of cinema.
The English summer camp in Sarrià – Sant Gervasi for children will be based on weekly projects with clear learning objectives. Each one of them will revolve around a film and will be the link between the many outdoor activities and multi-thematic workshops of the center. Everything, absolutely everything, will be developed in English, achieving a total immersion in the language.
As if this were not enough, our teachers know how to take advantage of every moment of the daily routine to teach new vocabulary and expressions in situations that may occur during lunch, recess or spontaneous games among the children.
The best English summer camp in Barcelona at the best prices!
Don’t wait until we run out of places, sign your child up now for the fun of learning English with FunTalk!
Prices and schedules of the summer camp in English in Sarrià – Sant Gervasi for children
FunTalk’s English summer camp in Sarrià – Sant Gervasi is aimed at children between 3 and 12 years old who want to participate in outdoor activities and multi-thematic workshops while learning English and having fun in a group.
DATES: From the week of June 25 to the week of July 23 (ending July 27). And also for the week of September 3 to 7.
SCHEDULES: You can choose to attend half day between 9:00 am and 2:00 pm or full day from 9:00 am to 4:30 pm. Parents may drop off their children at the center from 8:30 a.m. and pick them up until 5:00 p.m. (if they are registered for the full day camp), at no additional cost.
PRICES: For morning attendance only, the price is 109€/week. For full days is 149€/week.
As in the case of the English summer camp for children in Carrer Aragò, registrations for the English summer camp in Sarrià – Sant Gervasi can also be made in a totally flexible way. That is, children can sign up for single weeks and attendance in consecutive weeks is not required.
* If children attend the English summer camp for the full day, they must bring their lunch, as it will not be provided by FunTalk.
Total immersion in English for children in Sarrià – Sant Gervasi neighborhood
One of the main reasons why FunTalk’s English summer camp for children is the best in Barcelona is because it provides a total immersion in the language, in an effective and entertaining way, without the children having to leave the neighborhood.
English is the language used exclusively in the house and thanks to the organization of entertaining projects (this year with cinema as the main theme), the children are subtly led towards the objectives set to learn different aspects of English.
Outings to the park are always among the children’s favorites. From the Baby Fun center, we will move to the Jardins d’Enric Sagnier for multiple outdoor activities and water games, always in English. Outings to the park also offer children those rays of sunshine and light that are so beneficial to them and help them relax and forget that, while they are playing, they are also learning English.
However, indoor activities will also provide many opportunities for children to learn new English vocabulary and expressions. FunTalk’s English summer camp in Sarrià – Sant Gervasi will delight children with workshops in cooking, gardening, arts and crafts, plastic arts, drama and, of course, games! So, not only will they learn English, but they will also develop other qualities and who knows? Maybe they will discover some hidden talent!
Don’t wait until we run out of places and reserve yours for the English summer camp in Sarrià – Sant Gervasi!
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Where there is motivation, there is interest and, therefore, better learning. Buy your child’s next video game in English and create the need for him to learn the words used and understand the language being spoken. For older teens, multiplayer video games are a great way for them to practice their English speaking skills with other gamers from around the world who do not speak their language.
When a person listens to a song over and over again, he or she begins to learn the words little by little, then the structures, and during this process is learning pronunciation, intonation, rhythm and pitch. In addition, listening to music and singing is fun and motivating for children, as well as a good way for them to gain confidence and practice their speaking skills. Cambridge suggests “for children aged 5 to 11, choosing songs with lots of rhyming words and rhythms that are repeated. This makes it easier for children to learn new words and start singing along.” On the other hand, for older teenagers, songs are the perfect opportunity to combine their interests with learning English. They will definitely be motivated to understand and learner a song in English if you enjoy listening to it. Take a look at Lyrics Training to find a fun and interactive music listening game.
epetition is key to memory retention, so if every time your child wants to use his favorite toy truck, he sees “TRUCK” written on it, he’s sure to remember it and start using it in the future.
epetition is key to memory retention, so if every time your child wants to use his favorite toy truck, he sees “TRUCK” written on it, he’s sure to remember it and start using it in the future.
The brain does this by analyzing everything the child hears and transforming it into mouth movements that the child can imitate to produce a specific sound. How many times did you repeat “mommy” or “daddy” to your child before he or she was able to say it? They have to hear a word said on different occasions, by different people, before they try it. You can help your child learn English by exposing him to the sounds and rhythm of the English language so that it will be easier for him to repeat them in the future. If you think that changing the scenario is not enough, you can try more practical strategies. Help your child become aware of sounds by playing with refrigerator magnets: start with “cat” and then change one letter to make “mat” or “bat.” Children also love silly tongue twisters that unknowingly help them differentiate and practice similar sounds. Another alternative that will be great fun for your children is to make letters with pipe cleaners, plasticine or even food, and practice the sounds with them.
W. Reese (2011), expounds that “languages are best learned by their use rather than by formal rules”. We can know all the grammatical rules of a language but if we do not apply it to authentic situations, we will not be able to use it as a communicative form. In addition, by engaging in activities where they can create things, use their hands, solve problems, etc., students are much more motivated (Owens, Sadler, Barlow, & Smith-Walters, 2017), which in turn positively affects attention and memory consolidation (Cavenagh, 2016).
will revolve around a film and will be the link between the many outdoor activities and multi-thematic workshops of the center. Everything, absolutely everything, will be developed in English, achieving a total immersion in the language.
