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Why punishment may appear in class There are different circumstances that may trigger the teacher to consider punishing the young learners. Like having bad behaviors, ruin the learning environment of the class. And, because of the concentration-time to children, it is short. So that they will make some noise or run out of the seat during the class. Also, maybe they feel bored in the class without using their native language. When the class is running out of control, punishment can be easy to appear in the class. Punishment may have a short term effect in the class right at that moment which everyone will be quiet, nervous and stress. But the aftereffect can be very bad to the teacher in teaching the ESL class. Punishment cannot be an effective long term method for “controlling” the class especially to young children in an ESL classroom. Bad influence after punishment First, young learners cannot completely understand what you are saying in English as English is not their native language. Punishment may decrease their motivation in learning English because that will break the learning atmosphere of the class. Children cannot share freely or even want to try to speak in English because they will afraid of punishment. That can cause them even afraid to speak in English because of they afraid to get anything wrong in the class. So, they would choose rather not to join or speak in English to avoid punishment. Second, when a teacher is punishing a child, that he/she puts the child as a spot which is not appropriate to make the child feel shame. The child will feel no respect in the class and will not involve or have motivation in the ESL class. Also, that will affect the rest of the children in the class that they will feel stress and think of the teacher is not patient and kind enough.
Last, you will spend too much time on one individual child if you choose to punish the child. It is not good for other children because they should have a lesson and learning English not watching you punish somebody which is not productive to the class. Methods for replacing punishment There are a lot of methods and techniques for helping to manage the class instead of punishment. First, setting up class rules. The teacher can ask all the children in the class to provide and discuss their own class rules in English. That can help the children to follow “their own rules” and learn some new vocabulary at the same time. Children would love to “manage” their own class. So that they will be willing to follow and become a discipline in the class.
Second, the young learner is hard to concern too long because their concentration-time is short and that is around 20-30 minutes. The teacher can give them a short break if he/she observes the children start to become out of focus. At the same time, the teacher can teach them some simple words to express their needs. Such as break, rest, water, pee-pee, etc. To help them to express themselves with English easier.
Third, build up a rewarding system. The teacher can build up a star-collecting reward system to help the children visualize what they can do and do good. For example, try to be nice to classmates, ask or answer a question in English. The child will have a big sticker or a small gift after collecting 10 stars and the child with the reward can share the feeling of getting the reward in English. The appreciation from the teacher will make the child feel honor. A competitive and appreciated environment can increase the motivation of young children to get involved in the class and more willing to learn English in the ESL class. Forth, visual teaching materials, such as OHP, DVDs, can help children to involve the class. That can increase their interest to learn English. Also, that can help the children to extend their concentration-time longer. Last, using success ESA throw can help the children to learn English in an effective way. Engage them with some causal opening discussion to make them feel comfortable. After that can bring them to the study stage to do some vocabulary learning and then to activate the stage to let them pair up with their classmate. Each stage doesn’t have to be too long. This is an effective way to keep refreshing their mind and keep their interest and motivation to learn English and having the ESL class with the teacher.
Be patient, care, kindness, and fun
There are a lot of methodologies or techniques that teachers can use instead of punishing the child. I am sure punishment is not the last plan for managing an ESL classroom with young children.
Being a teacher of young children, the first impression is very important. They really care about their teacher is patient, care, kind or fun enough. School is a new environment for young children that they have to adapt to separating home. Emotion is a serious issue for young children. If you cannot make them feel trust as a teacher, they will become very grumpy and hard to learn new things. So, building up a good rapport with young learners is very important. After that, they will rely on you and have strong trust with discipline in your class. Plus, if you can be so fun to them, they will have a strong connection with you. That is definitely an incentive for both teachers and learners to have a good ESL class.
