In this article, we will introduce some important tips for practicing "English at home."Things to consider when creating a playlistWe have summarized the following information.
Before you create a playlist
Be sure to read it 📀✨
If you are reading this blog, you are probably already familiar with "Home English" and want to teach your children"Learn English at Home"Acquisitiondo,Bilingual KidsI want you to be like that!"I think that's what they're thinking.
In order for your child to learn English through "Home English,"The first thing moms should do"What should I do?Quality inputThe first thing to think about is, ``Can I get my child to do this?''
Of course, creating a playlist is alsoThe goal is to "provide high-quality input of English words and sentences."is.
The theme of this playlist isA noteRegarding that,
Before I tell you that story,
Why should I create a playlist?
I'll give you a simple answer to that question 😸
What is a playlist?A folder to store your favorite songsSo, if you create a playlist,You can listen to only the music in that folder on repeat.It will look like this.
The purpose of creating a playlist
In "Home English"By playing English DVDs and music at home, your child will be exposed to English words and sentences in the same way they would learn their native language.However,
In fact, at that time,
Even if you just play DVDs or music,
It is not possible to get your child to input English effectively.😿
So, MomMake a good playlist, make the content you want to input clear and specific, and then let it flow.You need to help your child learn EnglishThat's it.
For example, when moms are working on "home English," they say,To help them learn the word "what""The water is poured into the bath,"Set specific input contentI will.
To do this,"Use a playlist to create a list of songs that bring out the word 'what', and then listen to them while focusing on that word."That is a very effective method.
Staff Comment 1
By practicing "Home English",How do I create a playlist?Questions like these arise one after another.
In Besty,Answering questions from members at any timeAnd,Supporting members to practice "Home English"We are doing it.
In addition, in various courses including bilingual courses,"How can parents think and act to reach the right conclusion?"That "way of thinking"We are having students learn the following.
Now, let's get to the main topic.
Points to note when creating playlists
I don't think this is limited to "Home English," but in order to accomplish something, you have to think hard.
The trap that moms who think too hard fall into🕳️😖
However, when it comes to "Home English," the more motivated a mom is to "make a playlist and practice 'Home English'!", the more likely she is to
If you're going to make a "what" playlist,
✅What when used in questions
✅What when used in exclamatory sentences
✅What when used with relative pronouns
Divide it intoDetailed categorized playlistsLet's make it!
Thinking about this,I tend to create playlists that are too categorizedIsn't that right?
but,
The segmented playlist
Don't make it!!
In order to ensure that your child receives high-quality input, it is important not to subdivide categories, but toThe same word must be grouped together in the same playlist, even if it is used in different ways.That's it!
When I talk like this,
If I don't break it down into smaller pieces and put them on a playlist, won't my child not understand how to use the words...?
I think there are many people who feel anxious about this.
Where do you think this anxiety comes from?
This is because many Japanese people, including myself, have learned "what" as part of the grammar of different themes, such as questions, exclamations, and relative pronouns, and so we tend to think that when teaching children, "it's better to group together situations where the same word is used in the same way so that they will understand how to use the word," or "if we include various uses at once, they won't know how to use it."
You may also want to create a categorized playlist, as it may be easier for mom to check progress by breaking it down into smaller tasks.
but,Playlists should not be created from a parental perspective, such as to address parental concerns or make it easier for parents to check..
Why do you think that is?
Let's think about it together😸
The starting point for thinking about the input period of “Home English”
✅What is the Mother Tongue Method?
✅How can you get quality input?
Yes 😸
The most important thing about learning a language using the native language method is"(Unconscious) Self-awareness"is.
The reason why the same words should be grouped together in the same playlist even when used in different ways isTo help children "(unconsciously) realize" that a single word can be used in many different ways.is.
The accumulation of these (unconscious) realizations will eventually lead to a solid, three-dimensional understanding of words.That's why.
that's why,A mother's role is to consciously create an environment that allows her child to become aware of their own (unconscious) state.And supportRthingThis leads to high-quality input.
Staff Comment 2
Even if a word has multiple meanings, these meanings often derive from a common root.I think it makes sense that "knowing the same word from multiple angles, including different uses, will help you understand that word."
For example, the English word "spring" has multiple meanings, such as "spring," "springtime," and "fountain," and these meanings are derived from the etymology of "spring" (= something that gushes forth, bursts forth = squeezed tightly and then suddenly bursts out)."
Like thisLearning a language through the native language method involves unconsciously understanding the feel of the words.is.
Something like this happened to me when I was in high school.
I had a friend in my class who was a returnee, but she had no idea how to use the word "as," which is known to be a polysemous word, and made mistakes on exams.
What kind of problem was it?
(Question 1)
Choose from the options the "as" that is used in the same way as the "as" used in the following example.
(example)
As I got better at baseball, it became more interesting.
(Choices)
aAs The weather is nice, let's play baseball.
stomachAs I said, you can do it.
U He works as a baseball player.
workmanAs time went on, I became able to speak English better.
The problem was something like this.
Perhaps the friend is
(Question 2)
The brackets in the following sentences contain common English words. What is that English word?
A ( ) I got better at baseball, it became more interesting.
Lee ( )the weather is nice, let's play baseball.
U ( ) I said, you can do it.
He works ( ) a baseball player.
( ) time went on, I became able to speak English better.
If the question was like this, I think I would have been able to answer "as" without making a mistake.
However, I have lived in the United States for many years since I was a child.Have learned English as their native languageBecause it is something,I had learned to use "as" without ever thinking about the different uses of "as."That's why I think questions like (Question 1) made no sense to me at all.
(In honor of my friend, I'll add a postscript: this happened when I was in my first year of high school.After that, I easily mastered "English as an entrance exam subject."My friend successfully passed the general entrance exam to one of Japan's top private universities.
For parents who are about to start teaching their children English at home, it would be a good idea to first understand the difference between "learning English through one's native language" and "studying English through school education."
summary
Language that is absorbed intuitively and learned to the point of not forgetting during infancy will be able to be used intuitively even as an adult.
To practice "home English",It is important not to explain grammatical meaningsHowever, it is also very important to "encourage students to use words and sentences intuitively" by deliberately including questions, exclamations, and the relative pronoun "what" in the same playlist.
[Language acquisition process using the mother tongue method]
・First, get a general sense of the words.
·after that"Before you know it"I'm starting to understand the subtleties of how to use the word.
"Yume Mama's Story 1"
My daughter Yume passed the Eiken Grade 4 exam when she was in kindergarten, and while we were "preparing" for the exam, something happened that made me realize that she had a good grasp of English instinctively 🐱 ✏️💭
I was asked to fill in the blank space in a sentence by choosing a word from the options.
Dream is,"It feels so good when this fits!!"Or"Other than that, something's wrong 😿" In this way, I was able to choose the correct answer based on the linguistic sense that I had built up inside me!
I didn't come up with an answer by thinking logically, like, "This grammar uses relative pronouns, so the correct answer is XX."
It is amazing how a child who has just turned five and knows absolutely nothing about English grammar can easily solve English grammar problems at a junior high school second-year level.Because I have acquired English instinctivelyis.
And this isn't just about my daughter.
Many of the children from families who study at Besty have a linguistic sense similar to that of a native English speaker.Pass the Eiken test without studying for itWe are doing it!
The reason for acquiring such English skills is...
✅Don't learn grammar
✅ Thoroughly and intuitively
✅ To make people aware of nature
The reason for this is that we thoroughly practice "home English."
If you create a playlist while keeping in mind the points mentioned in this article, I think it will be easier for your child to learn English as their native language.
I will continue to work hard, so let's work hard together from now on!
Bonus: Remaining challenges for "Home English"
~Grammar essential for problem solving~
by the way,Even if you cultivate an English brain like your native language in this way, there are still "challenges to be overcome with English at home."😿
Behind the intuitively cultivated English skills,
There's a big pitfall 🕳️.
The pitfall is that if there is a period of time where you have no contact with English at all, you will quickly forget English.
If you continue to use English properly and correctly after learning it intuitively, you will be able to use it at the same level as a native speaker.If there is a period when you can't keep in touch, it's easy to forget.That's right 🙀
Also, once your child enters elementary school, they will absorb knowledge at a rapid pace.
In most families, I think children absorb a lot of knowledge in Japanese, but after entering elementary school, as they progress through various studies,There is a gap between Japanese and English skillsSometimes 💦
thisDifferences in language abilityOnce you've mastered this, even if you can speak English intuitively at a simple everyday conversation level, as soon as the topic becomes a little more difficult,
✅It's easier to talk in Japanese
✅ I can't talk about complicated matters in English.
This will cause the situation to occur.
Concerned about these things,
"If this is how it's going to turn out, then there's no point in becoming fluent in English as a toddler."
Some parents think so too💦
/
but……
By using a certain method, you will be able to remember and preserve the intuitive English skills you have developed using the native language method!
＼
In fact, the method is
"Learning grammar"That's it!!
This may seem contradictory to what I have said in this article so far, so let me summarize.
The idea of "avoiding studying grammar" is intended to help infants and young children, who are in the input stage and have not yet acquired the ability to speak English intuitively, acquire the ability to speak English.
"Grammar" isAfter acquiring English skills intuitively, play an important role in preserving their capabilities.That's it.
Intuitive English ability is mainly"right brain"It is cultivated by utilizing
And grammar (theory and basis) is mainly"Left brain"It is used to understand and remember.
I think this is an inaccurate way of saying it, but I will say it without fear of being misunderstood.
✅Using the right brainI rememberIt's easy to forgetstomach
✅To avoid forgetting and to solidify memories, you should use your left brain.
That is what it means.
Looking back, Yume, who received right-brain education, used to be able to recite about 100 digits of pi, but recently it seems she has forgotten it.
So, English grammar is
When is the best time to learn?
The specific timing is as follows:
・Once you can comfortably use English for everyday conversation
・After becoming an elementary school student
・After I became able to read English sentences
I recommend it 😸
"Home English"
・Learn English intuitively and become able to converse naturally in English
・After that, learn English grammar, connect the logic to your existing English sense, and try to solidify (preserve) your English brain while understanding it.
This is how you will learn English.
"Yume Mama's Story 2"
In this way, when your senses are accompanied by logic, you will acquire a keen linguistic sense like a native speaker, and finally"Lifelong English Skills"It will be!
It is generally believed that if a child has acquired age-appropriate English skills by around age 10, they will have the foundation laid for later development of "adult English skills."
Even if you think about it in Japanese,By the age of 0-5, children are able to intuitively speak a certain amount of everyday conversation before compulsory education begins at age 6, and by the time they reach age 10, they are able to converse with adults on an equal footing.It becomes like this.
Similarly,Ideally, children should be exposed to English on a continuous basis until they are around 10 years old, and acquire English skills appropriate to their age.is.
So, my daughter is 7 years old (as of January 2025), and our "home English" is still only half-way there🏠💭
In order to help her develop "lifelong English skills," I plan to continue supporting Yume for at least the next three years, through trial and error, so that she can maintain and improve her English skills.
From now on, on this blog - Every Day English - I would like to provide all the information you need to master "Home English", as well as share the realities of children who grow up learning "Home English"!
Thank you very much to everyone📝
