Teaching English to Young Learners: Through the Eyes of EFL Teacher Trainers

Year 2013, Volume: 2 Issue: 3, 95 - 110, 27.01.2014

Ebru Damar , Esim Gürsoy , Şule Çelik Korkmaz

Abstract

 

Turkey has recently changed the English language teaching (ELT) program for primary schools. The new changes required an earlier start for language learning, which are promising in terms of the importance given to foreign language teaching. However, the implementation of these changes requires readiness on the part of the teachers and preparation for the universities to compensate for the pre- and in-service training needs. Involvement of teacher trainers and teachers in the language teaching process is important for a successful implementation of a language policy. Thus, this study aims to investigate the teacher trainers’ views about the starting age for L2 learning, and the appropriate methodology for teaching English to young learners. A survey-type data collection method was used. 72 EFL teacher trainers from seven different public and private universities contributed to the study. The results revealed that EFL teacher trainers prefer language education to start at the first stage of primary school and even earlier during pre-school, which are in line with the recent changes in the curriculum. The trainers emphasized the importance of appropriate methodology and assessment techniques that are in accordance with the cognitive, emotional, and physical development of children.

Keywords

children, ELT, foreign language teaching, teacher education, teacher trainer, young learners

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