Did you know that Dr. Montessori was a big proponent of children learning a second language? She promoted the direct conversational method, using games, songs, pictures, and charts to help children get familiar with a language other than their mother tongue.
This is helpful information if you’re thinking about sending your child to a Montessori school where they will be considered an ESL student. Maybe you and your family don’t speak English at home, and this is how you plan on exposing your child to the language. If that’s the case, this article is for you.
You’ll be glad to know that there are plenty of ways for an ESL child to thrive in a Montessori environment. Since a child’s mind is so absorbent, they can learn a second, third, or even a fourth language much easier than adults can.
The Conversational Method
Dr. Montessori’s direct conversational method uses “target language”—AKA the language that the student is trying to learn. Instead of studying specific grammar skills, the direct method focuses on practicing everyday conversational skills. That’s not to say that reading, writing, and grammar is ignored. Those things are just not used for the intent of learning the language.
So, to use an ESL student as an example, instead of having them study English grammar and vocabulary, a Montessori guide would instead immerse them in an English-speaking classroom and allow them to adapt at their own pace, assisting them when necessary—but only when necessary.
Games, songs, pictures, and charts are also essential for the ESL child. These can be implemented during group circle time that happens outside of the work period.
Use of Other Materials
There are plenty of opportunities for an ESL child to learn the language within their Montessori classroom:
- in the practical life area
- in the science area
- with math materials
- with sensory materials
Language learning for ESL students doesn’t just happen when the student is working with the language materials. The entire classroom is one big learning opportunity!
Classroom Goals
Teaching English to an ESL child should be as natural of a process as possible. Keep in mind the ages and developmental stages a child goes through, and what their brain is prepared to learn during each stage.
Take a look at what children are doing at each developmental stage:
- 2 months—hearing sound of a voice
- 4 months—focusing on mouth movement
- 6 months—repeating the first syllable
- 6-10 months—babbling
- 10 months—understanding that language has meaning
- 1 year—using first intentional words
- 15 months—understanding inflection, tone, meaning behind words
- 18 months—using nouns to identify things
- 21 months—composing phrases of a few words
- 2 years—undergoing an explosion of new words and phrases
These stages of development are important to remember as a child learns a second language. If you understand that a child isn’t speaking because they’re not ready, you know you have the tools to provide more opportunities for language input.
If a child isn’t paying attention to you, you know how to shift your behavior toward what their developmental stage is interested in. If you don’t have a clear understanding of developmental stages and languages, you might push a child toward progress they’re not ready for.
Teaching the ESL Student
Since Montessori classrooms cut down on competition, they provide a great place for ESL students to comfortably learn English in a safe, supportive environment. If you’re interested in enrolling your child in our program, schedule a tour with Austin Children’s Academy today!
