This article is about the benefits of picture books in foreign language teaching in elementary school. Different picture books are presented on the basis of Irma Ghosn's reasons.
The first step is to determine whether children's books, as authentic literature, have a motivating context for language learning. In order to check whether a book is really motivating, various aspects such as storyline, theme, language and illustration must be considered. Irma Ghosn uses "The Hungry Caterpillar" to show and explain these aspects. "We're going on a Bear Hunt"
by Michael Rosen (2003) is another good example to show these aspects. The book is about a family outing where the children imagine that they are hunting a bear. For this, they have to overcome various obstacles. Between the obstacles, the bear hunt is put into foreground in a kind of marching song. When they discover the bear, they flee and must go through the obstacles again to get back to their house. The theme of the book is a journey of discovery that every child can identify with. The curiosity and imagination of a child is clearly visible in the story and also the unstoppable urge of children to discover. Ghosn (2002) also states that a storyline should remain open to different interpretations. Here, the story offers that it's unclear if they really meet a bear in the end or if they just make it up. Moreover, it remains open to what extent the obstacles really are of the big scale described in the story.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- The Use of Children’s Books in English Lessons: Is It Truly Motivating?
- The Storyline
- The Language of the Story
- Illustrations
- Children's Books Offer a Rich Contribution to Language Learning
- Natural and Predictable Language
- Spontaneity and Authenticity of Language
- Repetitive Phrases
- Pictorial Language
- The Role of Children's Books in Academic Literacy and Thinking
- Empathy Building and Social Behaviour in Children's Literature
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This portfolio aims to explore the potential of children's books in English language teaching, demonstrating their effectiveness in motivating students, enhancing language acquisition, fostering academic literacy and critical thinking, and promoting empathy and social skills. The focus is on providing a comprehensive overview of how children's books can serve as valuable tools for educators, illustrating their multifaceted benefits with concrete examples.
- The Motivating Power of Children’s Books
- The Contribution of Children’s Books to Language Learning
- The Role of Children’s Books in Academic Literacy and Thinking
- The Importance of Children’s Books in Developing Empathy and Social Skills
- The Significance of Authentic Literature in English Language Teaching
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
This section delves into the motivating aspects of children's books by examining elements like storyline, language, and illustrations. It demonstrates how engaging narratives, playful language, and vibrant visuals can effectively captivate young learners and foster their interest in English.
The chapter further explores the profound impact of children's books on language acquisition. It examines how natural language usage, authentic grammatical structures, and repetitive phrases in children's literature facilitate language learning and enhance comprehension.
Moreover, the chapter underscores the role of children's books in developing academic literacy and critical thinking skills. It illustrates how engaging with complex stories can stimulate problem-solving, encourage creative solutions, and expose children to various perspectives.
Finally, the section emphasizes the importance of children's books in fostering empathy and social skills. It showcases how diverse characters and narratives can promote understanding, tolerance, and social responsibility among young readers.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
Children's Literature, English Language Teaching, Language Acquisition, Motivation, Academic Literacy, Critical Thinking, Empathy, Social Skills, Authentic Literature, Storytelling, Illustrations, Narrative, Language Development, Grammar, Vocabulary, Onomatopoeia, Repetition, Diverse Perspectives, Character Development, Social Behaviour, Inclusivity, Global Awareness.
- Citation du texte
- Anonym (Auteur), 2020, Picture Books in the EFL Classroom, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/1414502