Text 1. Preschool Education and Language Development
Exercise 1. Brainstorming. Why is it important to have a proper preschool education? What theories of early child development do you know? What is the role of parents in the educational process?
Exercise 2. Make sure you know the difference in meaning of the words in the box. Read their definitions and match the words with their definitions.
a newborn / a baby / a toddler / an infant / a kid / a child /a teenager / an adult
1. A very young child, especially one that cannot yet walk or talk.
2. A child (informal).
3. A young child who is just beginning to walk.
4. A very young child or baby.
5. A person aged between 13 and 19 years.
6. A human being who is not yet an adult.
7. A recently born child or animal.
8. A mature, fully developed person.
Exercise 3. Define the part of speech of the following words and translate them into Russian:
Social – socialize; to comprehend – comprehensive – comprehension; to agree – to disagree – agreement; to vary – variety – various; meaning – meaningful; to relate – relation; to investigate – investigation; to develop – development.
Exercise 4. Read and memorize the following words.
preschool educational institutions [ edju`keiʃ(ǝ)n(ǝ)l] учреждения дошкольного об-разования
vary [`veǝri] изменяться
creche [kreʃ] ясли
appropriate (for) [ǝ`prǝupriǝt] подходящий
socialize [`sǝuʃ(ǝ)laiz] подготавливать к жизни в коллективе, в обществе
kindergarten [`kindǝ ,ga:t(ǝ)n] детский сад
handicraft [`hændikra:ft] ремесло, ручная работа
primary education [`praimǝri] начальное образование
language development [`læŋgwiʤ] развитие языка
true speech [′tru:] истинная, настоящая речь
engage (in, into) [′ingeiʤ ] вовлекать
average [ævǝriʤ] средний
vocabulary [′vǝ′kæbjul(ǝ)rı] запас слов
setting [′setiŋ] окружение, окружающая обстановка
skill [′skil] навык
Exercise 5. Make sure you know all the words in the box. Read their definitions and match the words with their definitions.
infancy / mature / compulsory education / crèche / skill / socialize / experience / optional education / handicraft / pedagogy
1. To fit or train for society or a social environment.
2. A developed ability.
3. Possible but not necessary; left to personal choice.
4. A craft that requires skilful hands.
5. The period of child‘s life before it can walk or talk
6. Skill or knowledge that you get by doing something.
7. A training course you have to attend.
8. A day nursery for very young children.
9. The science and art of education.
10. Behaving in a sensible and reasonable way.
Exercise 6. Read the passage and give the examples of educational institutions in your country.
Preschool is generally considered appropriate for children between three and five years of age, between the toddler and school stages. During this stage of development, children learn and assimilate information rapidly, and express interest and fascination in each new discovery. These qualities make them prime candidates for education, although most are not ready for structured primary or elementary education.
Institutions for preschool education vary widely around the world, as do their names (e.g., infant school, day care, maternal school, nursery school, crèche, kindergarten). The first systematic theory of early childhood pedagogy was offered by Friedrich Froebel, the founder of the kindergarten. Other influential theorists include Maria Montessori and Jean Piaget. Some preschools have adopted specialized methods of teaching, such as Montessori, Waldorf, High Scope, Reggio Emilia approach, Bank Street and various other pedagogies, which contribute to the foundation of education.
Educational institutions for preschool education in Britain include crèches, playgroups and nursery schools. A nursery school is a school for children aged between 2 and 5. Children are not required by law to go to nursery school, and may go instead to other groups such as playgroups or crèches. A playgroup or a playschool is a place where children who are below school age go regularly to play together and to learn through playing. A crèche is a place where babies and small children are taken care of while their parents are working, studying.
Educational institutions for preschool education in the US include nursery schools and kindergartens. Children from three to five years old attend nursery school, an optional school where children play together and learn to socialize. Children from 5 to 6 years old are to attend kindergarten, which is compulsory and is considered a part of elementary education. Kindrgartens in the US prepare young children for elementary school and develop basic skills and social behaviour by games, exercises, music, and simple handicrafts. Creches are attended by children in different European countries as well as in Russia, Scandinavia and Israel. In Italy, a child goes from the nursery school directly to the primary school. In Germany in addition to the kindergarten there is the school kindergarten, which is for children of school age who are not considered sufficiently mature.
Of major concern in preschool education is language development. Most investigators agree that true speech starts when the child begins to develop meaningful associations with the words he uses. For example, an infant who imitates the word mama without understanding its meaning is not engaging in true speech. For a child between 2 and 6, oral speech is a major task, involving both expression and comprehension. By about the age of four he has mastered the fundamentals of the grammar of his language. By the age of six the average child has increased his vocabulary to about 2.500 words or so – depending on the quality of his environment, and particularly the willingness of adults to relate to the child. One of the many tasks of early childhood education is to provide training in elementary language skills for all children. To improve their comprehension and speech, there are listening and language games.
Exercise 7. Find in the text all the cases of Passive Voice.
Exercise 8. Answer the questions.
1. What are the names for preschool educational institutions?
2. What educational institutions does preschool education in Britain include?
3. Are British children required by law to go to nursery schools?
4. What do American children do in their nursery schools?
5. What is the main task of early childhood education?
6. Who were the first theorists of early education?
7. What is the common age of children attending preschool?
8. What are the peculiarities of the children of this age?
9. What is the purpose of a crèche? 10. What are the stages of childhood language development?
Exercise 9. Work in pairs. Discuss the statements below. Say what you think about them and ask your partner if he/she agrees or disagrees with you.
1. The enrichment of the child‘s vocabulary depends on the quality of his environment, doesn‘t it?
2. Children need preschool.
3. Creche can substitute a family for a child.
4. Children are not always ready for preschool.
To my mind. / To my knowledge...
From my point of view / As far as I know...
In my opinion... / As far as I can judge...
Exercise 10 . Fill in the right prepositions.
To take care ..., to prepare ..., children aged ... 2 ... 5, attend ... kindergarten, to contribute ..., learn ... playing, to be engaged ..., to depend ..., to be ready ... .
Exercise 11. Translate into English.
1. Дети в возрасте от 2 до 5 (ниже школьного возраста) посещают школьные сады, пока их родители работают или учатся.
2. Дошкольные образовательные учреждения были основаны не только в США, но и в странах Европы.
3. Развитие речи – одна из важнейших задач дошкольного образования.
4. Существует много различных теорий раннего развития.
5. Посещение детского сада не всегда обязательно, но подготавливает ребят к младшей школе.
6. В деском саду малыши учатся общаться друг с другом, приобретают полезные навыки и, конечно, играют.
7. Развитие ребенка во многом зависит о его окружения и готовности родителей вносить свой вклад.
8. Дети учатся играя, и должны быть постоянно вовлечены в игровую деятельность.
Exercise 12. Tell more about early education theories. Choose one of the mentioned in the text.