Parental Tips: How to Encourage Children to Communicate in English
First, it's essential to remember that children do what their parents do--not always what the parents say. So, if you want your children to communicate in English, the best way to allow that to happen is to do it as well. Children always model their parents' behavior.
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Reading is fundamental. Parents who read have children who read. Indonesia tends to be a culture of non-readers and prefers oral and auditory communications (speaking and listening) over reading and writing. However, reading is essential for at least three reasons: It increases children's ability to acquire academic vocabulary, develops creativity, and encourages imagination. It also refocuses students' attention away from electronic devices such as TV and video games to inquiry-based learning where children are encouraged to ask, "Why?" It's a great idea to read bed time stories in English and discuss why things happen in the story with your child.
· Live in English! One of the most effective ways of creating an environment where your children must communicate English is by traveling to English speaking countries and placing children in one week programs or daily programs where they must communicate in English. It helps to create an environment where nothing but English is spoken. At home, families can live their lives in English rather than Indonesian in a variety of ways that are both stimulating and fun. Families can play games in English, watch and later discuss thought-provoking English programming on television, and by change the Indonesian translation sub-text to English at the bottom of the TV screen. If living life only in English is too sudden of a change, families can create an English day at home when the whole family communicates in English. Parents can also send children to English emersion summer programs where all activities are conducted in English.
· Be brave! Parents, don't be afraid of making mistakes when in speaking English. Children also learn from their parents' mistakes.
· Be creative! When you are stuck in traffic or have idle time, try the "I Spy" game in English. For example, "I spy with my little eye something blue and round. What is it?" Point out items in and out of the car and house, for example. You can also search on the Internet for games with children and find many communications-based games.
· Be social! If you know any foreign children or ex-pats, invite them over to your house and encourage your children to communicate or play in English.
· Last but not least! Parents, please spend time to find out what your child is learning in English and help them with homework and create projects. Remember, children do what we do, not always what we say! (Eve Goodmon)