By: Alex Smith

Although English lessons are required in almost every American school, many students often dislike or even fear studying the language.

Since the school curriculum moves quickly and teachers are unable to devote enough time to each student individually, many children often fall behind in their English lessons.

One of the most effective ways to help your child with reading and writing lessons is by hiring an English tutor.

Here are some ideas to help make English lessons fun for your little one.

1. Make Them Interact With the Materials

Unless children hold or interact with tangible objects, they will find little interest in their lessons. This is especially true for young children who have just begun to grasp the basics of English.

Let them play with colorful letter blocks, encouraging them to create words out of them. Play Scrabble, where they form different words on a board. Use visual charts or videos to awaken their interest.

For small children, talking sock puppets can be a great source of entertainment; use these puppets to interact with each other and teach your kids about new words, phrases, or stories.

2. Start With a Warm-Up Session

When you start your lessons with a warm-up session, children naturally begin to pay attention. It not only helps kids refresh their memory of the last few lessons but also serves as an icebreaker.

For instance, ask your child to tell a story about an event from the previous day, or to describe in detail a favorite meal. 

If you’re planning to enrol your kids in English tutoring, these games will be even more fun because they offer the chance for personalized learning. Kids love to share stories about their lives with a caring tutor.

3. Encourage Them to Speak English

One of the most effective ways to help students learn English is by having them speak it. Many students learn English as a second language while speaking a different language at home.

Encourage your child to ease into English during conversations. Children must learn that they’ll improve in spoken and written English only if they regularly use the language, despite making mistakes.

Tell your child that it’s fine to speak broken or incorrect English at first because doing so is much better than not speaking it at all out of fear.

However, if you don’t have enough time or the right skills to guide your child, choose a reputable English tutor for your child. Experts will provide a warm and supportive environment for your children, helping them master the language one step at a time.

4. Use Technology

Today, few kids want to learn just from books or photocopies. So, you must balance between physical and digital learning methods. 

For example, online texts can boldface essential vocabulary words, and Google Docs offers colorful ways to comment on essays. 

But also teach your children the dangers of using AI summaries. If they get caught, their grades could suffer. 

5. Speak About Real-Life Incidents

Another great way to make tutoring fun for your kids is by using real-life examples and anecdotes.

If you constantly discuss general aspects, children easily become bored. So, go beyond traditional textbooks by discussing their real-life experiences.

For example, you can connect a difficult decision faced by a character in a novel with a difficult decision that your child faced. Or ask students to write a journal entry about their day in English. Alternatively, you can also discuss the latest internet trends and memes.

When children can connect their learning to their lives, they’ll want to learn the language. 

6. Encourage Taking Breaks

Learning a new language can be difficult, especially for small children or students who are not fluent in English. When it feels too hard for both you and your little ones, it’s best to take a break.

Take inspiration from learning methods, such as the Pomodoro Technique, to encourage your kids to take breaks and clear their minds before resuming lessons. If they’ve been sitting for too long, ask them to walk around the room or go outside and play for a bit. 

Just as they need consistent lessons, children need mental relaxation. Breaks will help them focus on their studies once they rejoin the class with even more enthusiasm.

Conclusion

 When tutoring your kids, the best way to make sessions fun is to avoid pressuring or scolding them. However, if you’re too busy or lack confidence, seek reliable tutoring services, and you’ll see great improvements quickly.