The project “New Ways in Teaching Foreign Language to the Children from the Age of 3 Years”
presented by
English Learning Centre – Dr. Kalapošová Silvia,
J.Slovenského 18, Košice,
was awarded
EUROPEAN LABEL 2003
(innovative initiatives in language teaching and learning)
in the Slovak Republic
Main educational sector: pre-primary and primary
Main theme: early language learning
informal language learning
Additional themes: raising the quality of language teaching/learning
Language targeted: English
Awarded institution: English Learning Centre – Dr. Kalapošová Silvia
Slovenského 18
040 01 Košice
Contact person: Dr. Kalapošová Silvia
tel.: +42155 6441701
fax: +42155 6441701
e-mail:
Project Description
English Learning Centre Project: ”New ways in teaching foreign language to the children from the age of 3 upwards“ is a project of an imaginative way to make a foreign language accessible naturally to the children in their early years.
The main aim of the ELC project is: to encourage early foreign language learning in Slovakia and to raise the quality of language teaching/learning in an informal atmosphere.
The main objectives of the project:
· to encourage both teaching and learning foreign languages to a specific group of young learners;
· to break down a barrier in learning languages and encourage young children to use a foreign language in a natural way at their earliest age;
· to raise the language and international cultural awareness of the children from their early years.
To achieve these goals English Learning Centre /ELC/, Košice, Slovakia was established in 1991 and since that time Slovak children aged from 3 to 6 can come to ELC kindergarten everyday to play, sing and dance, as well as to begin learning numbers, reading and writing in English.
Qualified Slovak teachers and native speakers from Britain and other English speaking countries facilitate language learning through art, craft, drama and movement.
Creativity is encouraged in both teaching and learning and the use of English books, games, cassettes, videos, CD ROMs inspire natural communication and enthusiasm to learn.
Continuation of this process is provided in ELC Clubs – Junior clubs for children between the ages of 6 and 9 and English courses /clubs/ for older children from 10 - 15 who can join the friendly atmosphere of ELC every afternoon.
Outcomes of the project:
· children can learn a foreign language without any stress and via that way loose a language barrier very soon;
· children achieve the language readiness very quickly;
· the childrenś awareness and understanding of the linguistic and cultural variety of other countries rise very soon (the sooner they learn one foreign language the earlier they can start another one).
ELC would like to continue in its experiments at European level and move down the age of foreign language learning to the children aged 2 years and upwards.
New inovative methods created and developed in ELC can be used for teaching and learning any foreign language.