How to Teach English Intonation to Children
Teaching English as a second language, or ESL, to children involves a framework of grammar, vocabulary and syntax. Although these building blocks are important, for a child to get a true grasp of English, she must understand intonation as well.
Intonation is the subtle shift of patterns of stress in language. The improper use of intonation in English can make it confusing and change the meaning of words or phrases. Because children have different learning patterns and needs than adults, special techniques can be used for effective teaching.
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Instructions
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The child should have some basics of English grammar to begin work with intonation; although, intonation lessons can be used in conjunction with vocabulary lessons.
Begin by creating an atmosphere with as few distractions as possible. Using a brightly colored place mat under worksheets can help with focus. -
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Use examples that would appeal to the child's age group. Give verbal examples of stress intonation such as the difference between "I WANT an ice cream cone now" and "I want and ice cream cone NOW." Another example would be how stress changes meaning. "WHERE are you going?" and "Where are YOU going?" are examples.
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In addition to stress examples, use examples of how pauses change the meaning of sentences. Using humorous examples with pictures can help a child understand subtle differences.
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Engage the child with a physical activity like word flashcards. Begin with verbs and give the child an example. When the child understands, let him create sentences using the word with varying intonation to change the meaning.
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Alternate the physical activities with more passive activities to learn intonation, such as worksheets. You can use a premade worksheet or make your own based on the flashcard activity. Worksheets can be paired with recordings for a more effective approach.
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Use role-playing exercises to demonstrate intonation and emotion. Practice using different tones and volumes with the same sentence to convey feelings. For instance, saying the sentence, "Come out and play NOW" loudly can sound aggressive, whereas "Come and play now" in an even tone can be construed as a friendly invitation.
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Tips & Warnings
Look for visual cues of boredom and frustration and change your lesson from passive to active or vice versa to keep the child focused.
