Methods for Improving English Speaking Skills in Kids

Speaking with Support

Create a list of phrases to help students speak in English. Focus on these key areas:

• Getting used to English sounds.
• Practicing intonation patterns.
• Gaining confidence through positive reinforcement and praise.

Using Rhymes and Songs for Pronunciation

Children naturally begin to repeat words while performing actions. They generally enjoy singing and performing.

• Songs, rhymes, and chants: Start with short examples and ensure children understand the meaning.
• Use songs and rhymes to play with sounds.
• Incorporate simple instruments to enhance engagement.

Practicing New Vocabulary

When children listen to you, they often repeat words and phrases spontaneously. You can:

• Encourage them to repeat new items.
• Use pictures, sounds, gestures, movement, and actions.
• Repeat new words frequently to help pupils become familiar with them.

Playing Vocabulary Games

Guessing and memory games are effective ways to help children learn vocabulary in an enjoyable environment.

When you demonstrate game instructions in English, children listen with a real purpose, absorbing both vocabulary and intonation.

Example Activity: The Picture Guess

The teacher holds a picture and asks the children to guess the word. The student who guesses correctly comes to the front, takes the next picture, whispers the word to the teacher, and the others guess again.

Other useful vocabulary games include Stop the Pencil, Guessing the Pairs, or Hangman.

Practicing Pronunciation of New Sounds

Children acquire pronunciation and intonation naturally by listening to you. An effective activity is creating rhymes, such as: Brown, down, clown or Hot, dog, frog.

Children as Language Learners

Learners need:

• Clear pronunciation and intonation models.
• To feel successful when using English.
• Plenty of opportunities to communicate.
• To enjoy their efforts at speaking in English.

Guess the Mime

Miming is a fun, movement-based game. To play, use pictures of people performing different actions.

Place the pictures on the board. Children can work in pairs, choose a picture, act out the person in the image, and perform the mime together. Another popular variation is Pass the Ball.

Children Speaking in Groups

When your pupils work in pairs and groups, they:

• Get more opportunities to speak.
• Ask and answer questions.
• Learn from each other.
• Gain confidence speaking in both public and private settings.