Listen and do

Each time the teacher speaks in English, s/he is giving to the pupils another opportunity to acquire the language and to absorb the sounds and patterns of the language naturally. Here I have some “listen and do” activities very interesting to work in class. But first of all, we have to take into account the kind of basic instructions we use every day in class:

1. Listening and identifying:

• Talk to the children about the things you want them to learn the names of.
• Ask the children to point to or show you the things when you name them.

How can you get young children to settle down and listen properly?

2. Listening and doing - Total Physical Response: 

In Total Physical Response (TPR) children listen and follow a whole sequence of instructions, doing what the teacher says. It is a good way to start using English for communication in the classroom.

• Follow the leader
• Topic-based TPR
• TPR routines
• TPR for arranging the class

3. Listen and performing - Miming:

When children are familiar with the vocabulary used for a particular topic, you can introduce mime. Miming is more complex than simple TPR activities and it gives the children more freedom to be creative. Miming helps children understand when they are learning rhymes and chants.

4. Listening and responding games:

Playing games, which demand careful listening, help children have fun and make them listen while teacher is speaking English.