Young Learner Classes at Rose of York
At Rose of York we have Young Learner Programmes all year. Our students are always happy because they are constantly improving their language skills and becoming more confident at speaking English. They have the advantage of being in the very heart of London so they are constantly using their English and listening to English being spoken around them: they experience full immersion. This is a very valuable experience for a young learner because they do not get this opportunity in their own country. It is also a worthwhile investment for their future – the young learner will remember their experience for the rest of their lives because of the confidence it has given them with their English.
Initial assessment
Our school assesses the level of English of each young learner. Classes are planned specifically for the English level of the students. We take into consideration other important factors that determine the level of English of our young learners, such as:
- how many years the young learner has been studying English at school or with private tuition
- what exposure to English the young learner has had (listening to music, watching films/videos, reading books and so on)
- if the young learner has ever travelled to an English-speaking country before and how long they stayed
- if English is spoken at home
Planning and ways of teaching
Because different nationalities are taught, which learn in different ways, it is important for us to understand how best to teach the young learners. When we plan and deliver our lessons, we consider the following:
- oral, or written emphasis for a student learning at school in their own country;
- very competitive school culture, in which learners need high marks and good results and, as a result, their attitudes towards making mistakes;
- grammar of the young learner’s first language, which may be very different to English. This knowledge helps us to anticipate where a young learner might have problems during their learning of English at Rose of York.
Keeping Students Interested
How do our teachers make the young learner’s classes constantly interesting? Teachers make sure that the young learners are taught an equal amount of reading, writing, speaking, and listening. Our teachers also assess where the students are weak and concentrate on those areas to ensure that the young learners have an equal amount of ability in all areas of their understanding, and ability to use English. Because young learners are usually more excitable than older learners, we use games in English to focus them on having the kind of fun which improves their ability to learn – a happy student always learns faster. Students are encouraged to be creative in all the areas of English to make sure their confidence is constantly building and getting stronger.
Young Learner Classes at Rose of York
The Young Learners Programme at Rose of York is highly comprehensive. The classes follow a syllabus specifically designed for young learners and the different levels of English language skills they will possess.
The classes are closely linked to the afternoon activities the students take part in. This is to encourage the students to use the vocabulary and language structures learnt in class more freely, so that they practice and remember new language.
The teachers at Rose of York know London and all its interesting facts very well. They will focus on subjects about London history and, in general, about the culture of the U.K. in a way that the students will find exciting and educational at the same time. Whatever the students are being taught, their experience will improve their confidence in using English and their knowledge of the British culture. This experience will stay with them for the rest of their lives.