The Power of Praise and Encouragement

Kids English Theatre

I have to laugh when parents sometimes tell me “ Miranda, I’m sending my child to you because he/she hates English!” Thanks very much! It’s not ideal starting sessions surrounded by frightened little faces, who already have preconceived negative vibes about language learning. But, when it happens and I know I have a tiny window…

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Singing with young language learners

Kids English Theatre

A question I often ask teachers is “do you sing in class?” Answers vary… 🗣 “Perhaps, if there’s time at the end of the lesson” 🗣“No, I’m a terrible singer!” 🗣“Yes, but I sing the same old songs” 🗣“I’m too embarrassed to sing” 🗣“I only sing songs with very young learners. Older kids get bored” 🗣“No,…

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Why do English lessons flop?

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Have you ever prepared an  activity for your children based on what you’ve read somewhere or seen someone do? But when you introduce it, it completely FLOPS?😢 Why is that? A lot comes down to how we communicate. I often see teachers with impressive qualifications, knowledge and experience but with something fundamental missing: Effective communication…

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Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear… English Drama Game

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This afternoon I’m teaching a new (mixed level) group of 7-8 year- olds.🇬🇧🇬🇧 Some have already participated in my Mummy & Me courses and are therefore more confident speakers while others are completely new to Drama and English and are a bit apprehensive about what to expect (quite understandably so). If you are starting with a…

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Teaching children English is tough!

Kids English Theatre

Contrary to what most people believe – teaching children a foreign language is 1000 times more complicated than teaching adults. I too once thought “Kids? An hour lesson? Yeah, I can do that, no problem! Some paper, a few crayons and I’ll have them doing worksheets and colouring-in pages, simple!”👍👌 How wrong I was. After…

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How to teach children English through role-play

How to teach children English through role-play

One of the most challenging aspects of teaching children English is getting them to speak spontaneously and without embarrassment. But how do we that? ROLE-PLAYING offers children multiple opportunities to “try-out” fun roles and situations like at the restaurant, at the doctors, at the market –in a safe and supportive setting before they try them…

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Can a ball help teach children English?

Can a ball help teach children English

Looking for fresh ideas to teach young language learners? Try a big soft squidgy ball to: – Surprise – Motivate – Involve – Break the ice – Introduce new language – Review – Make learning fun and memorable Check out the video for some ideas. Resources: FREE E-Book “Teach Children English Through Drama- 4 Steps…

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Do you ever feel you’re teaching on autopilot?

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Do you ever feel you’re teaching on autopilot? Do you find yourself repeating the same old activities over and over? Are you too busy teaching – to plan lessons? You’re not alone. It’s no easy task preparing lessons that guarantee children will stay focused and motivated. And unfortunately, there is no “go to” secret to…

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ENGLISH DRAMA GAME OF THE WEEK – Rooms of the House

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ENGLISH DRAMA GAME OF THE WEEK Introducing young learners to the Rooms of the House can be a tricky topic. Children often get the rooms and pronunciation all mixed-up and I don’t blame them – I would too! Bathroom – Bedroom Dining room- Sitting room …..arghhh!!!😫😱 Here’s a surprisingly simple MIME game to help children…

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