There are quite a few ways to make learning English fun for a non-English speaker. For teachers who have been finding ways to make those lessons interesting, knowing what their students really like can help. In addition, there are also a few other things you can keep in mind to help non-English speakers appreciate learning English even more.
One of the first things you can do is not worry about grammar. A good way to study a new language is to know that the words are the most important; grammar only comes second. You can always communicate with the right words, even with poor grammar and construction. But if you have perfect grammar but don’t know the words, they won’t understand you.
Making English learners understand that words are more important can encourage them to speak more often. The best way to study a language is to think that way and speak the language. There are many students who do not learn because they are too shy to speak. Encouraging them to speak with different conversation games and conversation topics can help them think and speak in English.
Children, adolescents and adults love music, this is a fact. This is probably one of the reasons why many teachers use music to teach English because it helps make learning English fun for a non-English speaker. Using music with simple English lyrics and then answering some worksheets can definitely enhance your lessons. You can also use these letters as guides to help you establish a good conversation in English.
Music lyrics in English can provide these students with new words and a way to remember them. Remembering a language through music usually works best for most students because they connect words with melodies, making them easy to remember. Children and teens may also like to sing and do simple exercises like filling in the missing letters on their activity sheets.
There are also some students who prefer to study with both images and audio, hence the use of various videos when learning English. Others can also choose different sitcoms, movies, cartoons, and even movie trailers. These things make word association and word recall easier, especially for those who tend to remember things better through pictures. Preparing worksheets and discussions after watching the movie can be helpful, as well as building new vocabulary.
And of course, who can forget about various games? A simple game of charades can make students remember their vocabulary even better. There are also various games that can focus on both vocabulary and grammar. Make some song titles, then chop them up into words. Put them in groups of three and have them come up with their own meaningful song titles. They would definitely remember the words and their meanings better. Keep a dictionary handy, just in case.
Learning English doesn’t have to be tied to books and lesson plans. With a mix of conversation, games, movies, and music, making learning English fun for a non-English speaker is as easy as 1-2-3.
