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Playfully learning a new language

“While experts continue to expound a powerful argument for PLAY,
the actual time children spend playing continues to decrease.”

At the Angie Gisler English Language Centre we encourage learning through play. In the Owl clubs, students are motivated to acquire a new language or develop their mother tongue through inquiry based learning and child centered activities.

Longitudinal studies by Harvard University confirm that learning additional languages increases critical thinking skills, creativity and flexibility of the mind in young children.

Pupils who learn a foreign language outscore their non-foreign language learning peers in verbal and maths standardised tests, indicating that learning additional language is a cognitive activity not just a linguistic one.

Each Owl Club is assessed and individual learning plans are made for each little owl according to their interest and language level, to ensure their best performance within the group. We are able to give each student this valuable attention due to the fact that our clubs are never bigger than a group of 6.

Children who grow up learning about languages develop empathy for others and a curiosity for different cultures and ideas; prepared to take their place in a global society. Furthermore, in later years, career opportunities increase for those with additional languages to offer.

In September 2016 we are introducing the Owl Afterschool Club (age 5-6) and the Owl Literacy Club (age 7-10). In these clubs students learn by listening and speaking, reading and writing, and viewing and representing ideas in different ways. Your child will see and use patterns, like rhyme and sounds, to learn new words, categorise ideas and understand basic story writing. In turn, they will be encouraged to share and interact with peers in their own words.

A child’s JOB – PLAY don’t stop… PLAY!

Play is fun for children. Play is the way children learn. Through play, children learn about themselves, their environment, people and the world around them.

As they play, children learn to solve problems and to get along with others. They enhance their creativity and develop leadership skills and healthy personalities. Play develops skills children need to learn to read and write. Play in early childhood is the best foundation for success in school.

As a child learns to reach, grasp, crawl, run, climb and balance, physical skills are developed. Dexterity develops when the child handles toys or other objects.

Language increases as a child plays and interacts with others. A baby’s cooing games with parents evolve into the language skills of a child sharing stories. Learning to cooperate, negotiate, take turns and play by the rules are important interpersonal lifetime skills, all of which play fosters.

Positive play experiences develop positive emotional well-being. Through play and imagination, a child can fulfill wishes and overcome fears of unpleasant experiences. Play helps the child master the environment. When children feel secure, safe, successful and capable, they acquire important components of positive emotional health. Sharing play experiences also can create strong bonds between parent and child.

I love this quote by Fred Rogers… “Play is often talked about as if it were a relief from serious learning. But for children play is serious learning. Play is really the work of childhood.” Fred Rogers