Hooray! It’s the end of another academic year and it is time for some well-deserved rest. The anxious parent in you may already be panicking about next year. How can my child rest? He or she is going to forget all the English skills that were taught this year!
That may be true (we all know what happened when pupils returned to school after the circuit breaker). However, a break or rest is necessary to let your child’s brain relax for a while.
So how can pupils relax and yet not forget their English skills?
Here are 4 ways your child can reinforce his or her learning of the English language (without having to spend the entire school holiday burying his or her head in assessment books and test papers):
1. Catch Some Netflix Programmes
What? You’re asking me to let my child watch television shows? Are you sure that can improve one’s English skills?
Yes, parent. Now, let me explain why. In a similar way to how we pick up concepts and ideas from books, television shows and films act as a medium that can inspire and educate us as well.
In fact, for many of my pupils who do not like reading regularly, their composition ideas are often inspired by movies or episodes of drama series they have watched (especially when the movies depict real-life situations).
For those of you who subscribe to Netflix, you will know that there is whole plethora of television shows and films available. Using the “Netflix Kids” function, you can filter out any unsuitable content. Here are some shows I recommend (that are highly approved by my students too):
What it’s about: After being ordered to clean up the graffiti he painted at a marine theme park, a troubled young boy unexpectedly bonds with a killer whale on exhibit. As their bond grows, this young boy displays the true spirit of friendship by going to great lengths to free it from the exploitative owners who want to kill the animal.
Why your child should watch it: The movie touches on the long-debated topic of marine animals being kept in captivity. This has been a hotly-discussed topic on our shores as well with captive dolphins in Resorts World Sentosa’s S.E.A. Aquarium. After watching this movie, you and your child can engage in a discussion about the pros and cons of animals being kept in captivity.
What it’s about: From germs and emotions to social media and more, this fun documentary explores the science of our world in a way that’s refreshingly relatable to kids, teenagers and the young at heart. Interesting topics are addressed and social experiments are conducted to educate your child in scientific or current affairs in our world today.
Why your child should watch it: If your child is always asking questions such as “why” and “how”, this show is perfect for him or her. Presented in a light-hearted documentary-style for kids and teenagers, this series makes science approachable and relatable for children and parents alike. If you catch an episode with your child, you might find it extremely fascinating too! Not only will this boost your child’s general knowledge, he or she will also pick up relevant vocabulary to various topics (that might appear in the comprehension or vocabulary cloze section).
What it’s about: Fueled by memories of her mother, resourceful Fei Fei builds a rocket to the moon on a mission to prove the existence of a legendary moon goddess. During this adventure, she learns the value of love, loss and family.
Why your child should watch it: While we often feast on Western -influenced movies and series that we might not be able to relate to as well, this movie has incorporated many Asian cultures, values and practices that many Asians will be familiar with. This movie cleverly blends science, traditional Chinese legends as well as the importance of familial love in 100 minutes. Your child can learn how to describe the vivid scenes and at the end, you can quiz your child’s reading comprehension skills by asking him or her how the character felt at various scenes, and why the character was experiencing such emotions.
What it’s about: This is a reboot based on a 90s video game. In this Netflix series, they have turned the villain in the video game into the hero. Carmen Sandiego grows up on an island and attends a school for thieves to steal some of the world’s most priceless artefacts. However, inspired by a change of heart, she makes a decision to run away from the school and return these priceless artefacts, discovering her true identity in the process.
Why your child should watch it: Apart from learning more about the world, the series introduces fun facts about different countries to your child. The use of suspense, as well as the complication of the plot in each episode can help your child think about how their composition writing can stand out from their peers. Keep your eyes peeled for the flashback scenes which are slowed down and get your child to verbally describe how to write such scenes.
Bear in mind however that your child should not spend the entire holiday with their eyes glued to the screen! It is always ideal to digest such content in moderation and pick up the skills that come along with it.
2. Tune into Podcasts or the Radio
With Spotify and YouTube, we can access the radio and podcasts since they are so readily available online. This easy access will allow your child to be able to tune into interesting English broadcasts from the comfort of their own home, or even on the go. Aside from podcasts, Spotify has some excellent audio stories too!
How can your child benefit?
- Gain general knowledge and perspectives on current affairs
Radio stations and podcasts are avenues where captivating discussions on various current topics take place. They range from entertainment to sports and current affairs. Learning about these matters can be useful for exam components like Oral SBC and Comprehension Cloze.
- Boost Comprehension Cloze skills
If your child listens to English songs, he or she can even learn some idioms and collocations! Thus, tuning into radio stations and podcasts can help your child be exposed to a wider range of vocabulary and sentence structures.
- Gain Oral skills
Podcast and audio stories which are broadcasted in accurate English will be beneficial in helping your child hone his or her English pronunciation by learning the right intonation, stress and enunciation. Not to mention, using pauses and tone to create a sense of suspense! These are all vital skills that will help your child boost his or her oral skills.
Of course, remember to check that these podcasts and radio stations are suitable for your child beforehand. You should also check that they cover topics which you are comfortable with your child hearing about. If your child is not used to listening to English songs or broadcasts, take it in little steps. He or she does not have to spend hours listening to the podcast or to the deejay. Tuning in for five to ten minutes daily would benefit your child in many ways in the long run.
Here are some recommended podcasts available on Spotify to help you get started:
3. Find Opportunities to Write
When you stop doing something for long enough, you’ll end up forgetting how to go about performing the task. The same can be said for writing.
Not to worry, I’m not asking you to get your child to write more compositions. What you can do is find opportunities for him or her to create content. Here are some techniques you can try:
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Continue the story…
To spark a vivid imagination, give your child a beginning sentence. This sentence should invoke some sense of suspense (e.g. I opened the door and gasped at what I saw). Instruct them to continue with the story and tell them that they must write up to a certain length (of your choice, with a reasonable amount of time given).
- LEVEL UP THE TASK: To give your child a purpose to write, have him or her achieve a “goal” for each writing task. Here are some suggestions:
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- Vary sentence beginnings or use at least 6 transition words and phrases
- Write from the perspective of an adult/old woman/6-year-old child
- Use at least 5 Show Not Tell descriptions
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People-watch and come up with backstories
If you happen to be making a trip out that day, instruct your child to pick one person that they see that day and make observations about that person’s appearance, actions and speech (if possible). When your child returns home, remind him or her to jot these ideas down. Additionally, have your child think about what kind of situations their subject might experience in his or her life? Think of one possible scenario and get to writing:
4. Re-engage the Reluctant Reader
During the school term, some parents have concerns about getting their kids to read. After all, these children are already piled under mountains of homework! This is especially challenging if your child detests reading. Since it is the year-end holiday, however, there’s no better time to encourage your child to read.
But my son hates reading. I can never get him to read. What should I do?
Not to worry! Here are some tips for you and your child (from an ex-reluctant reader):
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Look beyond books
If your child simply refuses to pick up a book to read, forcing a book into his or her hands is just going to make things worse. Trust me, I was a victim of this in my childhood. For children who are resistant to books, start off with alternative sources first. If your child has an interest in a certain video game, he or she can read articles about ways to be better at that game. Have a child who loves wildlife? Look for a text type on that topic. Instead of reading things such as menus, instructions or signs to your child next time, have your child read them to you instead. Remember, reading opportunities are all around us!
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Read with your child
If you dictate a time for your child to read while you lounge on the sofa and catch-up on Netflix programmes, your child is probably not going to take to reading. Children pick up habits and are impressionable, so if they see that you do not read, they will not see the value in it either.
To cultivate the habit of reading in your home, make reading a family affair. Start small by dedicating about half an hour for the entire family to read. Books, newspapers, magazines or articles will be suitable (electronic devices are only ideal for the more disciplined children and parents). If you must use an electronic device, ensure that you are reading and not busy with other matters (children are very observant). Reading a newspaper article? Share some interesting facts with your child. If you are delving into a business report for work, that’s alright too! Share brief summaries of what you were reading about with your child. Then, have your child do the same with what they read. Once this interest has been cultivated, your child will be less reluctant to read.
Cultivating the interest to read may take some time (I personally took years to overcome my reluctance to read), but with some patience and positive encouragement from you, as well as teamwork in the family, your child can grow to love it!
