Teaching English to Young Learners

Teaching English to young learners as a foreign language has been a grovving trend in English language teaching as can be seen in many countries that are reducing the age of leaming a foreign language at primary schools.

This book emerged out of our practical as well as theoretical needs. As researchers and instructors teaching and researching at various faculties of education, we need theoretical and practical knovvledge that we can share with prospective teachers who will teach English to young learners after their graduation.

As a coursebook, it aims to provide sound information with tested and approved activities that can be helpful while teaching young learners. We believe that the tasks and activities we propose are original, enjoyable, and interesting that are worth trying. The authors have carefully worked on the selected tasks, activities, games, lesson plans, and suggested materials so as to make them fit into our educational needs and realities in Turkish primary schools.

The book can be used as a guide including theoretical information embedded in practical content. As such, the book can easily be used in "Foreign Language Teaching to Young Learners I and II" courses offered during the third year of foreign language teacher education programs in faculties of education in Turkey.

The book is organized in three parts. The first part has chapters related to some theoretical considerations that are relevant to the theory of teaching English to young learners. The second part deals with the four language skills and the aspects by means of ideas, handouts, lesson plans, tasks, and questions and activities. The third part includes some texts and tools that can be used as an aid while teaching.

In each chapter, the readers will find questions that should improve their critical thinking, reflective inquiry skills, and their decision making processes. We hope that this book serves as a helpful guide for prospective teachers. We cordially thank our previous teachers and students with whom we have developed our knovvledge together and continue to gain further insights