English Language Specialist Joan Kang Shin Gave a Workshop on Teaching English to Young Learners

Dr. Joan K. Shin demonstrates an interactive approach in her workshop on teaching English at the primary level

During January 12-14, 2009, English Language Specialist Joan Kang Shin, Professor of English, University of Maryland, Baltimore County, conducted a workshop on teaching English to young learners at Cantho University Learning Resource Center (LRC) for 34 lecturers and students from Cantho University, Cantho Department of Education and Training (DOET), Angiang University and Angiang DOET. 

This interactive workshop was designed to introduce participants to the theory and practice of teaching young learners in the EFL classroom. She introduced four modules to be used in a typical English class for young learners. These modules included learning and teaching styles for primary students, the use of songs, chants, finger plays, poems and story telling in an English class for young learners. Dr. Shin showed the participants how to incorporate songs, chant and poems effectively into English lessons as well as practice for teaching pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar and all four skills. She also demonstrated storytelling techniques and show participants how to integrate skills in fun and interesting contexts. The workshop also stressed on classroom interaction and Dr. Shin introduced strategies for teachers to create a more interactive and communicative atmosphere in young learner classrooms.