"Learning while playing" is an effective method for children to learn English.

The "learning while playing" method at Ms. Thu's English Center (Nam Dinh city) helps children be excited and proactive in learning.

Ms. Nguyen Thu Huong, Han Thuyen Street (Nam Dinh City) said that since her child was 4 years old, she has let her child have early access to English. In addition to registering her child for English classes at kindergarten, she also lets her child learn English at the center with friends of the same age. At the center, her child is taught by the teacher how to memorize and pronounce mainly through activities of studying, playing, and chatting with the teacher and friends. Every day after school, her child is very excited because she gets to participate in many different games. Through each game with rewards, she also remembers some new English words. In addition, her child has also become more confident, active and bold in communication. Ms. Ngo Phuong Thao, also in Nam Dinh City, also chooses to let her child have early access to new vocabulary through games, pictures, songs, and household items. When her child turned 5 years old, she registered her child for English classes at a center to expand her vocabulary and improve her memory and communication skills.

“Learning while playing, playing while learning” in the field of education in general, and English in particular, brings positive effects to children aged 4-10. This is a method that uses children's natural curiosity and creativity to facilitate learning, encouraging children to learn through exploration, experience and problem solving. In recent times, in addition to public educational institutions, some English centers have also focused on applying this method to teaching. Ms. Pham Thi Thu, Director of Ms. Thu English Center, has more than 10 years of research and teaching English to preschool and primary school children, said: Children aged 4-10 acquire knowledge mainly through visual interaction and practical experience. Therefore, effective learning methods must be suitable for children's psychology and cognitive abilities. In particular, the method of "learning while playing, playing while learning" is considered one of the most effective approaches, helping children absorb English naturally, without forcing. "Applying the learning method through games helps children build a solid English foundation from an early age, while developing important soft skills such as critical thinking, communication and teamwork", Ms. Thu added. Therefore, in the process of building lessons for students, she always researches and looks for many games and suitable teaching methods to help children access knowledge quickly and effectively. Each lesson is suitable for different ages and levels so that children can promote their spirit of proactive learning. Some typical games are: Flashcard (vocabulary cards), helping children learn vocabulary quickly and intuitively through pictures; Interactive games with modern screens, combining technology to help children practice listening, pronunciation and language reflexes through participating in highly interactive, vivid and intuitive games such as: answering according to pictures, assembling pictures...; physical games with learning tools such as: plastic rings, colorful plastic balls, air hammers, vocabulary dart boards, vocabulary dance mats, mystery boxes...

Through games, children develop their ability to observe, recognize vocabulary, and coordinate their hands and eyes; increase their reaction speed and the ability to associate vocabulary with images; help children connect vocabulary with meaning accurately; stimulate curiosity and descriptive thinking in English. Being able to "learn while playing" helps children absorb knowledge easily, be excited about learning, and be more agile and confident in communication. Nguyen Tran Bao Tram (8 years old) said: "I really like participating in games with my friends. Each game is related to a group of vocabulary by topic, so we can remember vocabulary more easily than the traditional way of learning theory."

Many students who participate in English classes in the "playing while learning" way have confidently participated in English competitions organized by the school and achieved good results such as: Dinh Gia Khanh (4 years old) won first prize in the "English Arena" program organized by Greenstar Kindergarten (Nam Dinh city); Mai Minh Nhat (8 years old) won second prize in the "Ring the Golden Bell" competition in the 2024-2025 school year organized by Nguyen Tat Thanh Primary School (Nam Dinh city); Do Hieu Kien (10 years old) won second prize in the "English Speaking" competition in the 2023-2024 school year organized by Chu Van An Primary School...

Choosing the right English learning method for children in the form of "learning while playing, playing while learning" helps build a solid language foundation, helps children absorb English naturally, creates a positive learning environment, initiates a love of learning, and comprehensively develops language and thinking skills.

Article and photos: Dieu Linh

Source: https://baonamdinh.vn/xa-hoi/202503/vua-hoc-vua-choi-phuong-phap-hoc-tieng-anh-hieu-qua-cho-tre-7810e4b/