Tag Archives: bilingualism
Our Easter Activity 🐣
We prepared a basket, folding the paper very carefully, then we put a handle and next we glued the eyes, the nose, the ears, and the whiskers of our bunny.
How did you like it?
First Day of class 2024
Let’s have fun learning English!
Toddlers Learning English
Children can learn a second language easily and enjoy it a lot.
Classes have to be funny and with hands on activities.
Interrogative Pronoun
Do you know how to use all the possibilities of How.
Here are some.
10 Childhood Benefits Of Being Bilingual
By Nikita Gupta / July 12, 2021
Photo credit: www.growingupgupta.com
“Having your child learn two languages at the same time will confuse them, won’t it?” “You know that teaching your child multiple languages is just going to cause a speech delay?”
Have you heard these assertions too? These are common questions that many of us raising bilingual kids hear. The answer is “No” to all of the above. Learning two languages at the same time does not negatively affect speech development. On the contrary, it might help the child overcome the problem faster. To give you some assurance, here are ten benefits of being bilingual.Photo credit: www.growingupgupta.com
Benefits of Being Bilingual from a Young Age
1. Better concentration
When a bilingual child tries to speak, both languages compete to be spoken. The child has to quickly pick and suppress the other and switch between them in a second. This ability helps kids to focus better in a noisy class and mute all other irrelevant sounds.
2. Arithmetic and problem-solving
Bilingual kids have better mental alertness, which helps them to solve problems much easier. A study by psychologists Ellen Bialystok and Michelle Martin, shows that bilinguals have an easier time dividing objects by shapes and colors than their monolingual peers.
3. Creativity and ability to hypothesize
Since their brains are used to decoding and interpreting two or more languages, bilingual kids have an easier time coming up with and explaining scientific ideas.
4. Better language and vocabulary
Bilingual kids do better in word reading and spelling because of their understanding of sounds and tenses. This gives them an advantage over others when they start learning languages in class.
5. Brain exercise
In a bilingual child’s brain, both sides are always on alert and active even when they are speaking one language. The brains work a little bit more than a monolingual brain, which enhances their cognitive abilities.
6. Better communication
Multilingual kids have mastered the art of interpersonal understanding and listening, which makes them better communicators. This is more of a benefit of growing up in a multilingual environment where you have to listen to other’s perspectives and understand them.
7. Better memory
Learning two languages means you have to retain a lot of information and be ready to produce it at will. This helps kids with memory in school work as well as other important stuff like directions.
8. Faster response
Have you ever noticed that children take a while before responding to a command or an incident? Learning multiple languages forces the brain to quickly switch from one language to another, depending on who is speaking to you. As a result, the brain gets used to quick response and shorter reaction time.
9. Improved social life and better family connections
Speaking a second or third language opens up a whole new world out there to enhance your social skills. Being able to communicate with people from different cultures is a confidence boost and an ice breaker. It also helps to relate better with family members from that culture.
10. Open-mindedness
Multilingual kids are more open-minded and adaptable because you have already exposed them to a different level of tolerance. They are also more accepting and understanding of others, which translates to compassion and empathy.
At a young age, bilingual acquisition is as natural as learning how to walk or crawl. Kids who learn decoding skills in one language will easily translate to English or any other language. Multicultural parenting may not be the easiest, but it comes with many benefits for the children. As we have seen, there are multiple benefits of being bilingual.
Let’s Learn about the Calendar
How to Implement the Calendar Routine
As parents, we are busy – especially in the morning! It can be difficult to establish a consistent calendar routine this time of day.
1. Keep it simple. Don’t try to achieve too many things with your calendar routine or you won’t be consistent. Start with the basics. If you need to, do your calendar routine the night before when things are calmer in the house.
2. Add your calendar routine to you child’s morning job chart. Check off the tasks on this chart each morning so you don’t forget any of them. This signals that the calendar routine is important and, if it is on the morning job chart, you will do it consistently. For more on morning routines, check out this post:
3. Start with a ‘days of the week’ song. See the videos below if you need more ideas. I’d like to give a shout out to Blanca Stingl, an amazing kindergarten teacher with a great calendar routine. I got many of these ideas from her. Give your child a pointer and allow him/her to point at the days of the week as you sing. When you introduce letter sounds, have your child look for the day of the week that starts with the ‘mmm’ sound (Monday).
4. Help your child select the number for the date. By doing this repetitively, your child will soon recognize numbers to 30.
5. Sing a ‘months of the year’ song. You may only want to do this a couple of times each month. If your child is getting bored or fidgety, keep your calendar routine shorter. Create a dance or let your child use the pointer for the months of the year to keep him/her moving.
6. Sing “What’s the weather like today?”. Then, look out the window and decide. Put up the appropriate weather label.
7. Finally, mention the season. You may want to read a book about ‘winter’ when the season changes. Discuss winter clothing, activities, and changes in the environment. You can do this each time a season changes. This can be a starting point for some great seasonal learning activities.
William Shakespeare
Do you want to know about him?
Learn about William Shakespeare, the world’s most famous playwright, and enjoy our colouring pages and printable activities, puzzles and worksheets.
Shakespeare Week is a national celebration of all things Shakespeare and a great excuse to read or watch plays (or poetry), discover some of the words that Shakespeare introduced to the English language, and learn about the man! Get involved from 20th to 26th March 2023. Or why not celebrate Shakespeare Day on his birthday, 23rd April?
Who Was William Shakespeare?
William Shakespeare (1564–1616) was an English playwright, actor and poet, and is widely regarded as the greatest English writer of all time. His plays have been translated into more than 100 languages and continue to be performed around the world to this day. He also introduced nearly 3,000 words to the English language. Find out more about this talented man who continues to influence our lives over 400 years after his death.
The original Globe Theatre
Fun Facts
- Although William’s exact birth date is uncertain, it is traditionally celebrated on 23rd April – the same date that he died, aged 52.
- William lived during the reign of both Queen Elizabeth I and King James I. Both these monarchs went to see his plays, and were said to be fans!
Favourite Quotes
There are so many famous quotes from Shakespeare. Here are just a few of them:
“All that glitters is not gold.”
“If music be the food of love, play on.”
“To be, or not to be: that is the question.”
“To thine own self be true.”
“A fool thinks himself to be wise, but a wise man knows himself to be a fool.”
A Short Biography of William Shakespeare
William Shakespeare was born 1564 in Stratford-upon-Avon, England. His father John was a leather merchant while his mother Mary was the daughter of wealthy farmer. William had two older sisters and three younger brothers.
William went to the local grammar school where he studied history, Greek and Latin. At 18, he married Anne Hathaway (aged 26) and the couple went on to have three children together – Susanna and twins Hamnet and Judith. Sadly their son Hamnet died, aged 11.
After the twins were born, William went to London to work as an actor, leaving the family behind. He joined an acting group called Lord Chamberlain’s Men. William also wrote plays for the group, which became very popular. Some of these early plays include The Taming of the Shrew, Richard III, Romeo and Juliet, and A Midsummer Night’s Dream. William wrote different types of plays – comedies (funny), tragedies (sad) and histories (about real people’s lives). Women weren’t allowed to act at the time, so men or young boys played the female roles!
Lord Chamberlain’s Men performed at a theatre built on land owned by Giles Allen. Although the group owned the theatre, when the land’s lease expired in 1597, Giles refused to let them perform and wanted to tear the theatre down. When negotiations failed, some of the actors devised a plan to dismantle the theatre and move it across the River Thames. They built a new theatre called the Globe, which could accommodate up to 3,000 people and became very popular. At the time, many people couldn’t read or write, so the Globe Theatre hung a flag outside to show what type of play was being performed – a comedy (white flag), a tragedy (black or dark flag), or a history (red flag).
In 1603, when James I became king, the Lord Chamberlain’s Men changed their name to the King’s Men and King James became the group’s patron. Many people think that some of William’s best plays were written during these years, many of them tragedies such as Hamlet, Othello, King Lear and Macbeth. William wrote nearly 40 plays as well as poetry, and poems called sonnets. His work combined with his property and land investments made him very wealthy. He bought a large house in Stratford-upon-Avon for his family, where he retired, aged 49.
In 1613, the Globe Theatre burned down when the thatched roof caught fire during a performance of Henry VIII. It was rebuilt the following year with a tiled roof, but was later demolished during the Puritan era (when all theatres were closed) to make room for housing. Some 350 years later, a modern version was built, opening in 1997 on the banks of the River Thames.
William died in 1616, but his legacy lives on. In fact, many of his words and phrases have become part of our everyday lives. Have you ever talked about ‘being in a pickle’ (being in trouble), going on a ‘wild goose chase’ (a search for something that isn’t there), having a ‘heart of gold’ (being kind) or trying to ‘break the ice’ (to strike up conversation with a stranger)? Then you are using the words and phrases of this great playwright!
Source: https://www.activityvillage.co.uk/william-shakespeare?awt_a=8YG5&awt_l=5S26Y&awt_m=IpVSHZyq2VDtG5
Famous Women
There is so much inspiration to be gained from learning about Famous People of the past and present – what they achieved and how – particularly when you can put them into the context of their time. Here we take a look at famous women from all walks of life, cultures and careers, and learn about their remarkable achievements.
Ada Lovelace (1815–1852) was a British mathematician who is credited with being the world…
Agnes Baden-Powell was Robert Baden-Powell‘s sister. She…
Amelia Earhart (1897–1937) was an American pilot famous for becoming the first woman to…
Aretha Franklin (1942–2018) was a multi-award winning American singer, songwriter and…
Children can learn a little about Bessie Coleman, a remarkable and determined women born in the…
Boudicca (c. 30 AD – c. 61 AD), also known as Boadicea, was a Celtic queen who showed…
Charlotte Brontë, 1816 to 1855, was the eldest of the three famous Brontë sisters and the author…
Cleopatra VII Philopator (69–30 BC) was a beautiful and ambitious Egyptian queen, famous…
Learn a little about Emily Brontë here, and then enjoy our fun colouring pages and printables…
Emmeline Pankhurst (1858–1928) was a leader of the British suffragette movement and an…
Enid Blyton (1897 to 1968) wrote well over 500 children’s books in her long writing career,…
Florence Nightingale (1820–1910) was a famous nurse who spent her life improving the…
George Eliot (1819–1880) was a famous English novelist living in Victorian times. Her real…
NEW! Children can learn a little about Harriet Tubman, remarkable “Moses” of the…
Helen Keller (1880–1968) was an American author, activist and lecturer admired worldwide…
Isabella Bird (1831–1904) was an intrepid and adventurous travel writer and photographer…
Find out a little about the author of Harry Potter, JK Rowling, and use our printable activity…
Jane Austen (1775 to 1818) is one of the most widely read and loved authors of all time. Her…
Jane Goodall, DBE, (1934–), is a British ethologist and conservationist, famous for her…
Joan of Arc (1412–1431) is the patron saint of France and of soldiers. She is famous for…
Julia Donaldson (1948–) is an English writer, playwright and performer most famous for her…
Mae Jemison (1956–) is an American doctor, teacher, businesswoman and former astronaut who…
Maria Sibylla Merian (1647–1717) was a German naturalist and illustrator who dedicated her…
Marie Curie (1867–1934) was a Polish scientist whose groundbreaking research on…
Mary Anning (1799–1847) was a famous English fossil hunter and collector. Despite her poor…
Mary Berry (1935–) is one of Britain’s best-loved cookery writers and television…
Mary Seacole (1805–1881) was a Jamaican-born British business woman who showed great…
Millicent Fawcett (1847–1929) was a leading campaigner for women’s rights in Britain…
Mother Teresa (1910–1997) was a Roman Catholic nun and missionary who dedicated herself to…
Lots NEW! Rosa Parks (1913–2005) was an African American civil rights activist, most…
Learn a little about this amazing tennis player, Serena Williams, who has been wowing us all…
Taylor Swift (1989–) is an award-winning American singer and songwriter who has captivated…
More Famous Women
- Anne – Queen of England from 1702 to 1714
- Anne of Cleves – Fourth wife of Henry VIII
- Anne Boleyn – Second (unfortunate) wife of Henry VIII
- Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall – wife of Prince Charles
- Catherine, Duchess of Cambride – wife of Prince William
- Catherine of Aragon – Spanish first wife of King Henry VIII, divorced
- Catherine Howard – Fifth wife of King Henry VIII, beheaded
- Catherine Parr – Sixth and last wife of King Henry VIII, she survived him!
- Cathy Freeman – Australian athlete and Olympic gold medal winner
- Diana, Princess of Wales – Mother of Prince William and Prince Harry
- Elizabeth I – Great Tudor Queen of England, from 1558 to 1603
- Elizabeth II – Queen of Great Britain, came to the throne in 1952
- Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon – the Queen Mother
- Fanny Blankers-Koen – “The flying housewife”, Dutch Olympic heroine
- Jackie Joyner-Kersee – Record-breaking, medal-winning US heptathlete
- Lady Jane Grey – the ‘Nine Day Queen’
- Jane Seymour – third and favourite wife of Henry VIII
- Jenny Jones – winner of GB’s first ever snow medal at Sochi 2014
- Kelly Holmes – winner of 2 gold medals in Olympics 2004
- Mary I – eldest daughter of Henry VIII and Queen of England, 1553-1558
- Mary II – Queen of England 1688-94, joint ruler with her husband William
- Mary Queen of Scots – unhappy Queen of Scotland and mother of James I of England
- Matilda – Empress Matilda ruled England briefly in 1141, never crowned
- Molly Brown – brave lady and survivor of the sinking of the Titanic
- Nadia Comaneci – first female gymnast to score an Olympic perfect 10
- Nellie Melba – Australian operatic star of the Victorian era
- Olave Baden-Powell – wife of Robert Baden-Powell and Chief Guide for many years
- Olga Korbut – star of the gymnastic arena in the 1972 Olympic Games
- Rihanna – world famous pop singer
- Tanni Grey Thompson – 11 times Paralympic gold medal winner
- Victoria – Queen of England from 1830 to 1901, the “Victorian Age”
More Famous People
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Halloween Tradition
October 31 is Halloween and is now celebrated in many countries around the world, but do you know anything about the origins of this scary special day? Read the article and find out.
Do the preparation task first. Then read the article and do the exercises.
The origins of Halloween
If you think of Halloween, you probably think of scary carved pumpkins, all kinds of fancy dress and children asking for sweets. And if you think of a country that celebrates Halloween, you probably think of the United States first. Americans and Canadians have adopted Halloween in a big way, but Halloween traditions actually come from 16th-century Ireland, Scotland and England.
The tradition of Halloween on 31 October comes from the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain. Samhain was the Celtic New Year and they celebrated it on 1 November because that was the end of summer and harvest time (life) and the beginning of winter (death). It was also the time for ghosts to return to earth for a day. People lit a big fire, wore special clothes made of animal skin and hoped to be safe from the ghosts and the winter. In AD 609, the Catholic Church put the Christian celebration of All Saints Day on 1 November. In AD 1000, the church added All Souls Day on 2 November, and All Hallows Eve – or Halloween – moved to the night of the 31st.
Pumpkins
The Celts carved faces into vegetables like turnips, potatoes and squash (a pumpkin is a kind of squash) to scare the ghosts and other spirits and make them go away. It was sometimes called a jack-o’-lantern because of an Irish story about a man, Jack. He played a trick on the devil and then had to walk the earth for all time as a punishment. Irish people who came to live in the United States in the 1800s found pumpkins much easier to carve, and the tradition became the one we see today.
Fancy dress
The Celts were afraid of the ghosts that came on Samhain. If they went outside after dark, they covered their faces with masks. They hoped any ghosts they met would think they were ghosts too and would leave them alone. In early America, the Native Americans and the first Europeans celebrated the end of the harvest, but not Halloween. When Irish people arrived, the harvest festival started to look more like Halloween and it became popular across the country. In the late 19th century, people tried to make Halloween less about ghosts and religion and more about celebrating the season with a party for neighbours and family. That’s why Americans today wear all kinds of Halloween costumes and not just scary things like witches and ghosts like in other countries.
Trick or treat
This is another tradition that began in Europe, this time in England. When the church introduced All Souls Day, rich people gave poor people ‘soul cakes’, a small cake made with spices and raisins. It replaced the Celtic tradition of leaving food outside houses for the ghosts. ‘Going a-souling’ was popular in England for hundreds of years until about the 1930s. The Americans kept the tradition, but today children knock on people’s doors and ask for sweets. Going trick or treating is so popular that a quarter of the sweets for the year in the United States are sold for this one day.
The rest of the world
Halloween has become the United States’ second-biggest commercial festival after Christmas. Halloween is also celebrated in other countries, but it’s not as big as in the United States, even in the countries where the traditions began. Mexico celebrates the Day of the Dead from 31 October to 2 November and some of its traditions, like giving gifts of sugar skulls, are starting to mix with Halloween. In this way, the celebration of Halloween continues to change as new traditions join the oldest of the Celtic ones.
Paula Lyra ELT School 