They say that, in life, we can learn from the experiences of others. Well, there he was, a 9 year-old child prodigy who learned to read and write in his native Spanish language at the tender age of 3. Still, for some unknown reason, Freddy was struggling to get good grades in English at school.
His mother would frequently ask herself: “How could this be? Freddy is an avid reader in his native language and assimilates everything he puts his hands on, so why is he having a hard time with English?”
What changed for Freddy? How did he go from a flake and future high school flameout, to become a fluent English speaker and the head of the English Department at a very recognizable and prestigious institution as an adult? In the end, it all came down to the main three things that every child needs in order to learn how to speak a new language:
- Interest.
- Motivation.
- Results.
First, he took interest in U.S. popular culture through movies, music, sports and TV shows, which led him to want to understand everything in English, in order to acquire more information about his favorite entertainers, athletes and general interests.
Second, what motivated him was being able to choose between two options and not just have to settle for one; he had music in Spanish and music in English. The same concept applied to everything else, which made him realize that, by knowing English, it gave him the chance to have the world at the palm of his hand and always go with the very best option.
Finally, the results came, and they came fast. He started speaking in English with his friends at school and around his neighborhood. His grades went from mediocre to outstanding and it was at that moment that Freddy realized how important the English language would become in his life. It was also the moment in which a new professional bilingual person was shaped.
For parents today, finding the right program for their kids to learn how to speak English is a difficult task, especially due to the fact that, the way in which this beautiful language is presented to their kids, may not be the optimal one. By making an emphasis on Grammar, Phonetics and other heavy subjects, kids are turned off by the information and lose interest in the language. This leads to them not feeling motivated, which eventually means that they never get to see the results they want, and neither do their parents.
The KOE KIDS Program Series is an innovative way to introduce kids to English by using formulas, images, colors and sounds in order to generate their interest. As they keep advancing through the program and realizing that they are able to speak the language, this helps them stay motivated and ready to reach their goals.
Each phase contains new daily-use vocabulary, in order to show how it is applied in a written story that is presented in such a way that it appeals to kids. Once they’ve learned the new vocabulary, then they’re ready to learn the formulas that will get them to make affirmative, negative and interrogative constructions, which will be the key for them to learn how to speak English.
Finally, everything that was presented and learned can be applied through practical exercises such as: Organize, True or False, Find the Mistake, and others.
By following this learning sequence, kids are able to acquire new vocabulary, see it applied in the form of readings, learn the structures that will allow them to speak English, and then put their knowledge to the test with the practical exercises.
It’s all entertaining, informative and, best of all, developed just for kids. We hope you like and enjoy it.
Alfredo E. Clark Lindo
Director Corporativo de Monitoria