The young learner

What is to be a young language learner?
     Being young language learner is to be envloved in the process of acquiring a new language, whether it is Spanish or English. When the learner is very young, this process becomes easier due the natural ability that children have to learn things.
     During the teaching practicum, I have realized that this ability is incredible. There is no need to be teaching them lots of rules and throwing them vocabulary lists. They just need to be expose to the language, and in a matter of minutes they just learn.

Teaching sea animals

     Let me tell you the case of one of my studentes named Daniel. He is a 5-year-old boy whose parents are both English teachers; therefore, Daniel has been exposed to English much more than the other children have. During classes, he is always eager to participate and answer everything that has been asked. Sometimes I am impressed because he knows words and verbs that his classmates do not know.
     Another case is Michelle. She is a 5-year-old girl whose case is different from the previous one. Michelle's parents are not teachers as Daniel's are, and the only exposal to English she has is in school. However, she is also eager to participate in classes answering any time she is request to do it. I know she can do more if she has more time sorrounded by English.
     This two cases prove that children have more chance to learn, not only English but also any language, just by being exposed to it. The more time children are in contact with the target language, the more they will learn.

By David Jimenez

INTRODUCTION

      This e-folio is aimed to share the experience of TVYL. In this e-folio, we will explain the methods we used during our teaching practicum, and also some experiences we lived with the teachers and the students from kindergarten level. During the development of the e-folio, we will show you images of the classroom environment and the classroom setting of the schools we went to do our practices.
We hope you enjoy this e-folio, and you learn something new and interesting for you to apply in your future teaching experiences.

reasoning for the name chosen to the efolio

     What a great adventure is to teach very young learners. When you tell legends, all the characters are involved in great adventures. Some of them fight with monsters, and some of them bend the four elements. However, they all have something in common: they all go through an amazing life-changing journey. That is why we chose this topic because by teaching and learning we live one of the most exciting adventures in life. We also become heroes for our students, for they see us as wise and "powerful" beings who can protect them while they are in school.