Teachers of young learners will be familiar with the importance of developing children’s fine motor skills. Building muscle strength, hand-eye coordination, and control are essential parts of students’ development during their early years.Ìý
For young learners, their education is frequently holistic. A single game or activity might develop their speaking and listening skills, mathematical knowledge, social interaction, artistic development as well as motor skills. In the same way, improving fine motor skills can form a natural part of students’ English classes and can have the following benefits:Ìý
Below are some simple ways you can develop fine motor skills in your classroom.ÌýÌý
Holding a pen for prolonged periods requires strong hand, wrist and arm muscles. If you’ve ever had to sit long hand-written exams, you will be familiar with tired and aching hand muscles.
It is important that students develop their muscle strength so they have the stamina and control needed for writing. Kneading and rolling play dough is a fun way to build these muscles. Then, children can use their playdough creations to role-play scenarios such as having a picnic or visiting a farm. They could even model it into letter shapes.
When singing songs or telling stories to young learners, teachers often incorporate actions to reinforce meaning. This is another opportunity to build those muscles. Children could also create shadow puppets with their hands to act out stories.ÌýÌý
Craft activities that involve scissors and gluing also help improve stamina and hand-eye coordination.Ìý
Mark making is an important step in a child’s development, encouraging creativity and coordination.Ìý
Try giving your students the opportunity to explore different mediums of mark making. For example, they could draw marks in trays of sand, jello, shaving foam, flour or rice. Talk to them about their sensory experience (Is it cold? Do you like it? What color is it?). They could start making marks with their whole hands and then, as their coordination improves, use an index finger. Then, they can start using a stick to make marks.ÌýÌý
As their fine motor skills develop, try using magic markers, chunky crayons and egg chalks to make large marks. Egg-shaped chalks are easier for young children to grip. Each straight line, wavy line and circle is another step on the road to learning how to write.Ìý
As children move on from general mark making, it is important to establish a correct grip when using a writing tool. This is especially important if you expect your students to go on to use a cursive style of handwriting in the future.Ìý
The pincer grip is when we hold something with our index finger and thumb. Peeling off and placing stickers, sorting building blocks and threading beads use this grip and provide opportunities for practicing colors, numbers, vocabulary and prepositions of place. Doing up buttons or zips uses this grasp too.Ìý
While it may be second nature for adults, for children, this grip requires precise control of the small muscles in their hands, wrists and fingers. Challenge students to pick up items with large blunt tweezers or chopsticks and work on their English at the same time (What have you got? I have a car. It’s small.).Ìý
The next stage of development for most children is the tripod grip. It uses three fingers: the thumb, index and middle fingers. It enables children to keep their wrist steady so they can make small, precise pencil movements.Ìý
Some children find using a rubber pencil grip, or simply wrapping an elastic band or lump of playdough around the base of the pencil helps them maintain this grip.Ìý
At this stage, students will be learning to hold and use writing tools such as pencils, crayons, markers, chalks and paintbrushes.Ìý
Prewriting activities offer more controlled fine motor skills practice. The usual progression is to start with straight lines, zig-zags, curved lines and diagonal lines. Then move on to tracing over circles and u-shapes. This is all essential preparation for writing letters and words.Ìý
English courses for young learners are full of mazes, dot-to-dot, tracing and matching activities, all of which combine prewriting with learning English.Ìý
When it comes to writing letters, it can be helpful if students begin by drawing the letter shape in the air or in sand. They then trace the letter shape with an index finger, before finally tracing over the letter with a pencil.
When teaching students who use a different writing system in L1, establishing fine motor skills routines can make all the difference to students’ writing.Ìý
It can be helpful to work on left-to-right orientation. For example, before they sit down to write, give students scarves to move from left to right in the air. These students will benefit from pre-writing activities that work on left-to-right, top-to-bottom patterns.Ìý
Doing up buttons, zips, and laces, turning on taps, cutting up food and opening boxes – all of these things improve students’ fine motor skills. They also promote autonomy and social development by helping students learn essential everyday life skillsÌý
This has an added advantage for the teacher. The less time you have to spend helping students with these tasks, the more time you will have to work on other areas of their development. Not only that, it is also motivating for students to have that ‘I can do it all by myself!’ feeling.Ìý
Students will be far better prepared to pick up a pen or pencil if they have developed strength, dexterity and stamina in their hands, wrists and arms. This will leave them free to concentrate on the language element of their classroom task, rather than the physical challenge it presents.Ìý
Support your young learners withÌýEnglish Code,Ìýa 7-level course for 7-12-year-olds, offering 5 hours or more of English study per week. Available in both American English and British English versions, it promotes hands-on creative learning, investigation, fun projects and experiments.Ìý
Focusing on project work and STEAM learning, children develop fine motor skills while learning how to collaborate and solve problems with their peers. Core functional language is at the forefront, giving students the vocabulary and tools they need to become confident speakers of English inside and outside the classroom.
Learning English with music can enhance learning and create a more engaging and dynamic classroom environment. In a previous post, we discussed if music can help you learn a language; this post looks at how music can be incorporated into the classroom.
Using music in your classroom can help improve student motivation, focus, and retention of information. Here are some ways you can use music to enhance your classroom teaching:
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Have you considered studying abroad? Moving to Canada to study? With more than 100 world-class universities across the country, there’s good reason to. From coast to coast to coast, it offers many international students a safe and supportive learning environment and the opportunity to work after graduation.
Want to learn more? In this guide, we cover ten things you should know about studying in Canada:
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In today's globally connected business landscape, language training is not merely an added advantage but a critical component for companies seeking to maximize their team's potential. Being proficient in multiple languages enables effective communication, promotes cross-cultural understanding, and enhances networking capabilities.
As businesses expand their operations globally, the proficiency to communicate in the native languages of clients and partners becomes crucial. This essential skill, proficiency in spoken languages, fosters trust and paves the way for more successful negotiations. Linguistic adaptability is becoming a pivotal requisite for organizations that aim to thrive in international commerce's dynamic and diverse environment.
Acquiring a second language through language learning involves a systematic approach. It focuses on studying one language with the aim of enhancing communication skills in professional, educational and personal settings. This form of education transcends mere memorization and language study of vocabulary and grammar in a single language. It strives to foster a profound understanding of linguistic subtleties and cultural aspects across multiple languages.
Language learning mastery accelerates critical thinking and adaptation to communication challenges, resulting in stronger, more meaningful connections in a multilingual, interconnected world. Mastering more than one language in today's diverse business world is not simply about translation; it's about gaining a competitive edge by understanding the nuances and cultural contexts that can inform and enhance global relationships.
Consequently, language learning not only equips individuals with the tools required for effective dialogue but also sharpens cognitive abilities, paves the way for greater empathy towards other languages and cultures, and opens a doorway to a wealth of new personal and professional opportunities.
Through language training, employees develop better listening abilities, pronunciation and vocabulary that collectively improve their overall communication proficiency. They gain a deeper understanding of the subtleties of language, allowing them to convey messages more clearly and comprehend others with increased accuracy.
Language learning is crucial in fostering more profound connections with colleagues and clients.ÌýLearning languages goes beyond mere verbal exchange; it immerses individuals in the subtleties of different cultures, fostering a global mindset and sensitivity that are invaluable assets in today's international market. Individuals can cultivate more meaningful relationships by showcasing empathy and a genuine interest in cultural engagement with other cultures and other languages.
The fluency attained through dedicated language training significantly elevates an employee's self-assurance in their professional capabilities. Confident employees are more likely to engage in discussions, present ideas articulately, and assert their viewpoints in negotiations—key catalysts in driving innovation and business growth. Achieving fluency in learning a second language or foreign mother tongue is a commendable milestone that fosters employees' sense of accomplishment and self-worth.
Furthermore, through additional language learning, employees not only enhance their communication abilities but also increase their propensity to establish rapport with international clients and partners. This, in turn, fosters more fruitful and harmonious professional relationships. In essence, language proficiency in more than just one other language, empowers individuals to operate beyond their comfort zones, thereby driving both personal and professional growth.
Language skills are not just tools for effective communication—they can be a catalyst for career advancement.
Acquiring proficiency in a first or second language, a foreign tongue or an additional second language can also open the door to new roles within the company, such as international liaison or translator, which may have been unattainable otherwise. Mastering more than one language not only signifies an individual's ability to engage in varied linguistic exchanges but also demonstrates a commitment to personal development and an understanding of the evolving demands of the global marketplace.
Employees with multilingual capabilities are often perceived as valuable assets who can seamlessly interact with diverse markets, making them prime candidates for promotions and leadership positions.
Furthermore, as companies increasingly value global collaboration, being able to negotiate and network in a different culture and other languages can lead to being entrusted with more strategic projects and overseas postings. These opportunities broaden an individual's experience of the global economy and exposure to learning a second or third language, preparing them for a variety of influential roles within the ever-expanding global business arena.
The process of acquiring and learning a new language thus does much more than merely expand an individual’s ability to communicate in only one language; it also provides significant cognitive enhancements.
As individuals learn and use a second language, they engage in mental exercises that strengthen their brain and the new language's neural pathways, leading to better memory retention and recall of the new language.
This cognitive exercise extends beyond language acquisition, enhancing the brain's ability to handle complex situations and solve problems more efficiently. Bilingual or multilingual individuals often demonstrate enhanced proficiency in recognizing essential components of complex problem-solving challenges and crafting innovative solutions. This ability stems from their adeptness and other skills acquired through language diversity.
The practice of switching between languages enhances multitasking abilities, making language learners more effective in navigating tasks that require an attention span juggling multiple priorities. These cognitive side benefits of learning can have profound implications, contributing to an individual's mental agility and resilience in both personal and professional contexts. You can read more in our post 'ÌýBeing bilingual can help keep your brain in good condition'.
