THE ROLE OF TEACHING ENGLISH TO CHILDREN IN KINDERGARTENS OR WHAT PARENTS THINK ABOUT THEIR CHILDREN LEARNING ENGLISH IN KINDERGARTENS

Abstract: Nowadays, learning English acquires great popularity in preschool age. Teaching English to children in kindergartens has become a phenomenon in education. The relevance of early teaching English to preschoolers is dictated by requirements of the society. Learning English in modern community is not only pledge of successful linguistic and vocal development of a child, but necessity: a desire to continue studying at school, abroad, leading business with foreign representatives, globetrotting— all this requires the knowledge of English. In order to speak fluent English, it should be studied from school, but it is better to study it from preschool age. So, the main objectives of this scientific article are to determine the importance of teaching English in kindergartens, estimate methodologies which are used in the process of teaching and to take consideration teachers’ approaches. Also, it aims to contemplate parents’ opinion about teaching English to their children in kindergartens.

Key words: preschool age, requirements, successful linguistic, vocal development, fluent English, main objectives, the importance of English, methodologies, teachers’ approaches, viewpoints of people, learning games, pedagogy, kindergartens.

In recent years, progressive development of the society causes great interest in learning English, which in turn, arouses necessity of teaching English to children in kindergartens. The knowledge of English is significant in almost all spheres of the society. Today, English is beginning to be taught at a preschool age. Almost all parents realize that the knowledge of a foreign language is extremely important. That is why they are intensely engaged with their child in this direction. To train a schoolchild or preschooler, they hire a tutor or send him to special courses. Therefore, the age of students in teaching this language is changing. Preschool age is one of the most favourable periods for studying foreign language, since children in this age are distinguished by unordinary competence in linguistic phenomenon, as they have a great interest in comprehension of their speech experience. Also, literate approaches which are utilized by teachers play an important role in the process of teaching. There is notion that studying English contributes not only to diversified development and upbringing, but creates favourable conditions for the development of linguistic and social abilities. So, teaching to toddlers is not a conventional matter, which requires completely different methodology in comparison with teaching to adults or pupils. Therefore, rational start may be a pledge of further success.

In modern world, there are stricter requirements towards people according to economic, global, geopolitical and socio- cultural changes. There is an increasing need for communicating freely in English and sometimes even in different languages. Methodologies used by teachers and the capacity of perception of information are changing, therefore learning approaches should be also replaced. According to scientists’ point of view, early teaching of English complicates the content of preschool education and it is detrimental, since it robs a kid’s childhood. However, researches have shown that utilization of rational methodologies during teaching may develop children and boost their educational and cultural level. It is just necessary to choose the age, which is more favorable for the beginning of teaching. So, what do people mean by early teaching English to preschoolers? It should be understood that it is the teaching which is based on practical approach from the moment of birth until the studying at school. Possessing high functions of psyche and brain, children have more opportunities of development, realization of which are depended from education and upbringing of surrounding adults. Thus, they should be developed in all different spheres from first days. According to the professor N. A. Bonk, it is necessary to include following aspects on the basis of teaching foreign language at early stage:

• Developing ( priority- oriented )
• ­Well- conducted
• ­Cognitive
• ­Educational

It has been already proven that early studying English not only accelerates the formation process of communicative competence, but also positively affects on general development of a child. From the viewpoint of I. L. Sholpo, the main objectives in the teaching process of preschoolers to a foreign language are:

• The formation of primary skills of communication at foreign language in children;
• Ability to use a foreign language in order to attain certain goals, expression of thoughts and feelings in emerging situations of communication;
• ­Creating positive atmosphere for further studying foreign languages;
• ­Awakening interest to the life and culture of different countries;
• ­Upbringing active, creative and emotional attitude to the word;
• ­Developing linguistic capabilities of students considering age-related features of their structure at senior preschoolers;
• ­Decentralization of the personality, i e ability to look at the world from different positions [1, 58].

Despite the scientists’ data, I have created a pie chart which is based on the survey which was conducted by me among teachers, parents and students who are studying English. So, 54 people were asked about what they think, children learn English well in kindergarten or school and provided with 2 variants. Having conducted a survey, it became clear that majority of people reckon teaching English from preschool age is better compared with school time.

It is obvious from the illustration that 74% of people voted for kindergartens as the best place to start learning English, while 26% of them for school. In addition to this, participants of the questionnaire shared with some feedbacks. One of them thinks that children mostly comprehend this language at school, since they are more conscious, while preschoolers assume this activity as game and they can just learn names of subjects, animals, plants and something else.

Currently, there are different versions relating to the way of teaching English and one of the most relevant and effective is teaching through games. It is considered that the game teaching method is the most effective, as it allows parents to accustom their children to mental work gradually, making it entertaining and interesting.

To conclude the survey which was conducted by me, it is necessary to emphasize the significance of kindergarten for initial teaching English to children. It is true that a child cannot completely learn this language during studying in kindergarten, but it is important to start teaching a foreign language from preschool age, since teachers there can introduce initial knowledge to preschoolers, raise their interest to the culture, customs and traditions of English countries and direct them into the right way. Accordingly, scientists proved that studying a foreign language from kindergarten develops children’s horizon, memory, logic and brainwork. In addition to this, research work organized by me also confirms the psychologists’ statement about the importance of early teaching English in kindergartens. Finally, majority of people, especially scientists, teachers and parents became the proof that kindergarten is better period for initial teaching English to children compared with school.

REFERENCES:

1. I. L. Sholpo. Tutorial on the methodology of teaching English for pedagogical universities, colleges and academies.- Saint- Petersburg, 1999, 56-64.
2. Z. Y. Futerman. Foreign language in kindergarten.-Kiev, 1984, 88-95.
3. E. A. Arkin. A child in preschool years.-1968, 446.