Teach little kids to sing English.2

Author: Zhang Xiangjun
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-05-01
Features: Melodious English nursery rhymes; Fun game units; Happy language learning. English nursery rhyme CD: 10 familiar English nursery rhymes to guide children in learning happily; Game learning units: 50 English game learning units to lead children in natural learning; DIY craft paper: 2 DIY craft paper boards to provide children with hands-on creation.
The learning of a language is inseparable from cultural understanding. One effective method to enhance children's interest in language learning and increase their cultural awareness is to expose them to traditional nursery rhymes from around the world. The ancestors of each ethnic group have left behind many beautiful nursery rhymes, which often represent the essence of their culture. It is important for children to learn and sing these folk rhymes from a young age.
In the UK, nursery rhymes are considered a formal field of study, compiled into early learning materials, and systematically introduced by nannies and kindergarten teachers. For British children, the age before five is the era of nursery rhymes. Some say, "British children's education is effective because it is guided and driven by nursery rhymes," which seems quite reasonable.
In Taiwan, parents generally believe that the earlier a child learns a foreign language, the better the outcome. As a result, bilingual kindergartens are popping up everywhere, and English learning is becoming increasingly lowized. However, as the time children spend learning English extends, English teaching materials and methods must vary across different stages. It is essential not to focus solely on language skills, memorizing vocabulary and grammar rules, and practicing dialogues, while neglecting the cultural aspects of English and American languages. Children should be introduced to the cultures of the UK and the US to use English naturally.
I, as someone working in children's education, find it hard not to give children the best. Even simple activities like maze exercises, in their design, must consider not only their relevance to the content of English nursery rhymes to reinforce the learning theme but also how the visuals convey beauty to children. Therefore, I especially invited my good friend, the renowned picture book author Shi Zhengting, to illustrate all the images to ensure their authenticity and aesthetic appeal.
Each game book comes with a CD, allowing children to sing along repeatedly. To help children clearly hear the pronunciation of each English nursery rhyme and sing along accurately to achieve language learning goals, the recording process involved three steps: first, native speakers were asked to recite each rhyme once, followed by a second recording with music, and finally, a third recording with only instrumental music for children to practice independently.