The most effective way to help children acquire English as a second language is to tap into their interests, and use tools and techniques that engage their attention, inspire practice, and result in real progress.
Advances in technology – particularly mobile tech – have made connecting with ESL students and supporting their learning easier than ever. Most kids love their computers, tablets and smartphones – an enthusiasm parents can leverage to encourage English language practice from home and accelerate their child’s progress.
Here are some of the best apps for teaching phonics and early reading, and helping more advanced students master the English language skills they’ll need to succeed in high school and university:
Apps That Teach Phonics for Kids
Young ESL students study phonics to build their vocabulary and prepare for reading and writing. In addition to what they can achieve in an enriched language school setting, there are some excellent apps for at-home or on-the-go practice:
• ABC Gurus
ABC Gurus presents phonics for kids with a fun, artistic twist. Featuring easy-to-use controls and various style options, this app associates learning phonics with colouring – an activity most children already enjoy. As they colour in a letter, they listen to the letter name and sounds and then see a video of an animated keyword associated with the letter.
• Hairy Letters
Complete with quirky animation and sound effects, this app uses furry creatures to guide the child from one letter to the next. Children hear how the letter is pronounced phonetically as they trace its shape. More letters and letter-related games are unlocked as kids progress through the program.
• Tap and Learn ABC
This app has kids match letter sounds with the visual appearance of the letter and some keywords (the image of the letter C, for example, is surrounded by a cat, a cow and a car). The visual – auditory connection is a key element of successful early reading.
Apps that Help Improve Grammar and Structure
English language learning for kids often focuses on how to communicate clearly with grammatically correct sentences. But teachers and parents know that practice outside of ESL class is essential for students to truly absorb structural rules. These apps will help them gain experience while having fun:
• Flashcards for Kids
This simple app uses pictures to help kids build their English vocabulary. It then quizzes them to make sure they remember what they learned.
• Duolingo
This is a popular app that incorporates reading, writing, listening and speaking in English. It also checks for learning and retention with quizzes, which encourages kids to ‘beat their top score’ and do better each round.
• Sentence Builder for iPad
This award-winning app asks students to construct simple, grammatically correct English sentences based on the videos and images it provides. It comes with various difficulty levels and can be customized to each child’s learning goals.
Apps That Help ESL Students get Ready for University
If your child is a bit older and is pursuing ESL university prep courses , you might consider trying apps that focus on developing advanced vocabulary skills. The options highlighted here help students learn new words – and practice how to use them in their conversation and writing.
• Mind Snacks
Perfect for students who want to develop a sophisticated English vocabulary, MindSnacks’ SAT preparation offers a number of different games that teach challenging words. Students must go beyond rote memorization by integrating new word into sentences, helping them understand both meaning and context.
• Fluent U
This app uses engaging and popular English videos as language learning tools. Students watch interviews, commercials, music videos and talk shows, building their understanding of North American culture while enhancing their English conversation skills. They can stop the videos at any time to “tap” a word they don’t understand, and receive a complete definition.
From early reading to more advanced critical thinking and analysis, these apps offer ESL students of all ages an opportunity to extend their practice beyond the classroom. Use them at home or on-the-go!
Would you like to learn more about enriched ESL courses for your child? Contact Little Mountain Learning Academy today!
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