Children do not like and cannot concentrate on one lesson for a long time and monotonously learn long lists of words or grammar rules. You will not convince your child to do boring exercises in a textbook for an hour. It is important for modern children to understand why they do this and to be interested in the process itself. Therefore, learning should be fun and playful. This is the only way to quickly achieve results in the language classes.
For many children who are learning two or even three languages, keeping vocabulary and remembering the right word during a test or when relatives ask them to say something in a foreign language is not easy. Many parents or teachers note that some children sometimes find it difficult to remember what they learned in class, especially when foreign words were completely out of context.
And if the child does not repeat the words or does not use them constantly, then even the colors or names of pets, with which there were no problems in the lesson, can cause difficulties. In this regard, visualization is a powerful tool: you can use an educational poster template from https://www.storyboardthat.com/create/poster-templates or come up with your methods.
How to learn words in a foreign language quickly?
Children learn everything new very quickly. But sometimes long lists of words can’t be learned. They get bored. You can quickly learn words with a child in several ways, using associations, abstract thinking, and the classic but most effective method – playing. Make the process of learning new words exciting for your child. For example, you can use the following methods:
1. Draw
Let the child draw the word as he or she imagines it. It can be an abstraction or a fairy-tale creature. Sign the picture and hang it on the wall until your kid remembers the word. Draw cards: on the one hand a hint picture, on the other – the word itself. Play who will be the first to say all the words, excitement motivates children very well.
2. Make up a story
Depending on the child’s level of language proficiency, you can write different stories with new words. If the level is still low, insert new words into the texts in your native language. This will make it easier for the child to remember them. Make up funny stories and fairy-tale characters, and let the child be actively involved in the creative process. If you highlight keywords and emphasize them and then ask your child to repeat and memorize those words, you will notice how your child’s vocabulary will change. That’s why stories are a great way to introduce a child to new vocabulary, keeping their attention with an interesting plot and bright illustrations.
3. Play
Play active games using new words. You can find ideas for many games online or come up with your own. The main thing is that the process is fun for the children. During the game, new words are memorized much faster. You don’t have to do this with gadgets, sometimes a 10-minute card game with words can help your kid to take a break from homework or repeat words before continuing!
4. Make it personal
It is easier to remember what directly concerns us. Children learn languages in the same way. So, if you can relate the topic of the words you need to learn to your child’s personal experience, the chances of memorizing words increase. For example, when you study animals, it is better to focus on those that the child likes and those they would like to have. What animals has your child seen recently in the park? And what pets do her friends have?
Repetition of learned words should become a daily habit for your child. One way to encourage a child to do this is to record and listen to his/her voice. Invite the child to write down and listen to how he/she pronounces words with different intonations: when he/she is happy, sad, angry, and so on. Repeat the exercise until the child memorizes all the words.
How to quickly learn the alphabet with children?
The same pictures, cards, cubes, colorful books, and songs will help you learn the foreign alphabet quickly. Remember how you taught your child the alphabet of your native language. Bright cubes with different characters or a book will help children visually memorize letters. Learn the correct pronunciation at once, and find funny songs or cartoons. There are many options for such videos on YouTube.