How to Help Your Child Practice their

English Language Skills at Home

Dr. Joel April 12, 2019

Foreign Principal,
Hangzhou Greentown Yuhua Primary School
Aims

Parents will be presented with:

 Reasons why students must strategically practice using their
English language skills outside of school.
 Practical tips for helping their children to further develop
confidence and skills with English use outside of school.
 An opportunity to practice their conversation skills with peers
in this parent salon.
Problem: Students Need More Practice
Using English Outside of School
Why it matters An example of creating an
 “Good” practice furthers: opportunity to practice English!

1. Social confidence
2. Improved language abilities
Listening Speaking
Reading Writing

 It is not enough to rely on school

to develop your child’s English
language development
 You must create opportunities for
English language development
outside of school
n do !
u ca ome
Yo at h
s
thi
Where and When Is Your Child Using
English?
English as a Foreign Language (EFL) means children will have very little exposure
to the language outside of school.

English &
English Environment Science Classes

School

Home
YOU must
create
Neighborhood opportunities
for practice
China
Where and When Is Your Child Using
English?
Outside of School

Conversations with
family

Playdates

Digital tools

Tutoring
Conversations with Family

 Who speaks English in the

family?
 Talk about real experiences
Spend at least one hour a
 Go the park
week having an eye-to-eye
 After shopping at the mall
conversation in English
 About the dinner you just ate with your child.
 Some conversations are easier to
have than others
 Kids have interests and non-interests
 Retelling or describing things and
situations are easier for students
 Personal feelings or reasons are
harder to talk about
 Start with topics that your children want
to talk about and feel comfortable with
 Plan the time into your schedule
 Conversations with Family
 Focus on Language Functions & Forms
 Purpose of communication
 Language structures needed
Language Functions
To Express Feelings
To Express Wants or Needs
To Explain Why
To Give Directions
To Make a Request
To Describe Something
To Compare Things
To Ask for Where Something Is
To ask for directions
Language Forms
“I feel that _______."
“I would like _______.”
“I think ________ because _____.”
“First, you ____. Then, you ___.”
“May I please _____.”
“It is ____. It also has _____.”
“It is ______, but ______.”
“Do you know where _____.”
 Conversations with Family
 5 Discussion Techniques:
Rephrase
1. Ask Open-Ended Questions &
Comment
 Not just “yes” or “no” questions Ask to
Clarify
Expand
2. Have Child Expand on their
Comments 5
Open- Discussion Affirm or
 “Can you tell me more?” Ended Qs Techniques Contrast

3. Rephrase and Comment on Child’s

Comments
 “So I am hearing you say _____. I think
that ____.”
4. Ask for Clarification
 “I think you said _____. Is that correct?”
5. Give Affirmation or a Contrasting
Let’s practice!
Opinion
 “I also agree or feel that ____.” “I know
you ____, but I ______.”
Conversations with Family
Let’s Practice!
Language Function:
Asking for permission
Language Forms:
“May I please _______.”
“I know____, but ______.”
“Yes, we can ____, but ___.”
TIP! Have conversations at
home with your child using
language forms to support the
specific language function you
want to engage in.
Child: “May I please have a hamburger for
dinner tonight?”
Parent: “But you just had a hamburger
yesterday. It is not healthy to eat this
everyday.”
Child: “I know you think it is too much, but I
promise that I will exercise tomorrow
morning!”
Parent: “I know you think I am very strict,
but it is because I care about you.”
Child: “Please! I want to go to the new Habit
restaurant.”
Parent: “Yes, we can go together. But, if we
go eat a hamburger, we can only talk in
English the whole time while we eat!
Child: Okay! Yay!
Playdates
Digital Tools
Tutoring & Self-Study
Words to Remember…

Social interaction is the origin and

engine of learning.

Lev Vygotsky, Educational Psychologist

(1896-1934)
Thank you!