\ The 2nd and 3rd meetings /

The 2nd and 3rd meetings**

We discussed how to teach vocabulary with the Body Parts song in the 2nd meeting.  And then we played the "Draw a Monster" game.  Children can gain more their vocabulary with enjoyment.

And we played the "How are you?" game.  And then we gave our opinion, and we also made arranged game. With this game, children can learn simple conversational expression.  We must teach target language again and again.  Even if we teach target language to children once, they can't learn that then.  So, I recommend we play this game at the beginning of the class as introduction.  In the use of the game in every classes, Children will become able to use this game phrase.  Target language in this game is as follows.

A/ How are you?
B/ I'm ---------.(adjective)
A/ Oh!  Here's a --------.
                I love you!
                Relax!
B/ Thank you!

PS. The first pic is took in the 2nd meeting, and the second pic is took in the 3rd meeting! ;D 

From Megumi

\ The 1st meeting /

The 1st meeting**

New school term started, so we began to work as Child English Study Group again!!!

We had 1st meeting in new term on October 9, and I will report that our working.  But before I do that, I must talk about soooooooo big news with our group!  The news is......what 2 NEW MEMBERS JOIN our group! <333  And they also took part in the meeting!  That made me so happy!! :D  I hope our group have members more and more!

This meeting is first meeting in this term, so we started to have orientation for new members.  And we talk about our working from now on too.  Our final goal is teaching English with enjoyment in actual kindergarten or nursery school!  We have much things that we should do in order to put in it into practice.

One of these things is learning SKILLS to teach English with enjoyment.  When we teach English with only desk working, children will feel it boring.  And the way may make their desire to study English lose.  So Ms.Christie says, "We should have more ACTIVITIES, SONGS, GAMES at teaching English.  It is good for children to teach English with enjoyment."

So we worked "CARD GAME" in this meeting.  This cards are written vegetable words and painted pictures.  How to play the game is below.  

1. One student (This person has task as TEACHER.) choose one word.

2. Other students ask TEACHER person what card he/she choose.  For example, "Do you like apples?"
3. The person answer the question. "Yes, I do." or "No, I don't."
4. Other students find the card, If the person answer "Yes, I do."

The game and karuta that is Japanese game are similar.  This game is exciting and effective to learn English skills.  Children must listen to words carefully and converse with person.  This activities develop their LISTENING and SPEAKING skills in English.  And We must carefully pay attention to PRONUNCIATION.  For example, we must listen whether children pronounce correctly 'APPLE' or 'APPLES,' and whether they can converse.  If a person says "Do you like apples?", answer must says "Yes, I do." or "No, I don't."  If the answer says "I like apples." or "I don't like apples", we revise the mistake.  And we let the answer pronounce correctly.  

New activities!

A lot of people were busy today so our group was small, but we enjoyed learning a new activity.

Megumi introduced her activity that teaches colors and nouns. Click HERE to see her lesson plan!

I also introduced a great song to teach basic language such as

• Do you like ____?
• I like _____.
• I don't like ____.
• Yucky!

--------------------------------------------

At the beginning of our meeting I was telling Megumi about a really interesting volunteer activity I was involved with last week. She thought that other group members might be interested in it. Please click HERE to find out more about the APCC (Asian Pacific Children's Convention). They also have a Facebook page. Search for this group: Asian-Pacific Children's Convention

\ The 3rd, 4th and 5th meetings /

 The 3rd, 4th and 5th meetings**

Through the 3rd, 4th and 5th meetings, we learned what is important to teach for children.

First of all, we must introduce the verbs to children.  Children doesn't have enough  English vocabulary.  So we must show some English words in first!  And then we have to have verb-related activities.  "TEACHING and TESTING and ACTIVITY" is great important, so we must keep this cycle in our mind.  With this cycle, children touch various English words many times, so they can expand their vocabulary.
In addition, we must not forget "SIMPLE and OVER ACTIONS with KEEPING TENSION!"  That seems simple, but it's surprisingly difficult...  We are adult, so we can't forget to have shyness in public. If we can't do that, we can't show "SIMPLE and OVER ACTIONS with KEEPING TENSION!" in front of children much more.  But children are tired when they repeat the same and negative actions.  They love moving so much!  So we must introduce different style in activities, and work that with ENJOYMENT. If we teachers work activity with enjoyment, children can enjoy do that!  So we must not forget to keep ENJOYMENT in our mind!
In last, I introduce some useful verb-related activities!

*Gesture Game
After introducing the verbs to the students, cut up the cards and out them in a box.  have  one student come to the front of class and take a card.  The student then should act out the verb using gesture.  the students sitting down then must say what verb the student is mimicking.

*Timed Race
 All the cards are out in a pile on the floor.  The students must go and pick up a card, go to the teacher and say the target expression(e.g. I can dance).  If the student picked up by the students and passed on to the teacher, the teacher stops the timer.  The time is announced.  Students then try again to beat their time. 

The second meeting on May, 19

The second meeting was held on May 19, 2014.
Thanks for coming,everyone! Our leader Megumi was sick in bed though.

In this time, Ms. Provenzano taught us two songs and a game! Click here, and the people who couldn't join us the day can understand the lesson.

\ The CESG 1st meeting! /

The 1st meeting on May 12th! **

We had the first meeting for Child English Study Group on May 12th!

All of first, we introduced ourselves each other, and we talked about our goals,  why we try to take part in this activity and what we hope to accomplish with the group.

Then we learned how to teach English for children from Ms. Provenzano.  We knew two importances for doing that.  One importance is "WORD."  Children don't know many English words.  So we have to tell them English words when we teach them English in the first time.  After we show them English words, we let them speak English words.  This step is valuable for teaching English for children.  Another importance is "ACTION."  When children only just listen and take class, they lose interest for class right away.  So we should adopt "ACTION" in class.  For example, when we teach the word of 'Jump', we actually do jumping.  With "ACTION," we can play a quick English game with children!  To apply to practice, we play "'please' game."  This game steps are so simple! The steps are bellow.

1. A teacher say '～～～～, please?'

2. Children do the action.

The steps are very simple, but children can enjoy the game.  Children love moving!  Moreover,  this game has merits.  The merits is being able to learn daily conversation and polite way of saying.  The phrase of '～～～～, please' is generally used by many people and known as polite phrase.  So when children play this game, they can gain ordinary conversation and speaking manner skills with enjoyment.
In conclusion, importances for teaching English for children are "WORD" and "ACTION!"  We must learn how to teach English foe children with paying attention to these things!

That's all for 1st meeting!