Book Review : Practical English Language Teaching ; Young Learners

 Name              : Bayani Amri Putri

Class                : IV C

NPM               : 12050117

Subject                        : Extensive Reading

The Analysis of Book

Title                             : Practical English Language Teaching ; Young                           Learners

Author                         : Caroline T. Linse

Number of page          : 205 pages

Year                            : 2006

            The Practical English Language Teaching; Young Learners is book by Caroline T. Linse that is designed for practicing teachers or for teachers in preparation who may or may not have formal training in second and foreign language teaching methodology. This book focuses on the education of children who are between the ages of five and 12 years of age. It also based on developmentally appropriate practices because it is necessary to always consider the children’s physical, emotional, and cognitive development. It consists of nine chapters.

            Chapter 1, this chapter provides a brief overview of child development as well as ways to learn about children’s development and interests. It begins with the information about developmentally appropriate instruction and three major areas of children’s development; social-emotional, cognitive, and physical. Chapter 2-5, these chapters discusses the core skill area include listening, speaking, reading, and writing. In listening skills, the materials that discuss are the definition of listening, the background to the teaching of listening, the development of listening skills etc. It also include the classroom technique such us TPR (Total Physical Response) method. In speaking skill, the material begins with the description of speaking and the role of speaking in children’s development of their first language. The explanation of the development of speaking skills is provided including specific issues when teachers encounter in the classroom. The classroom techniques that used in speaking skill is ALM (Audio-lingual Method). The Audio-lingual Method to language teaching is based on the notion that one can learn language by developing habits based on the patterns of language. In the reading skill, the material discusses about the description of reading as it relates to children who are at different stage of literacy development in their native language. The next section is about developing reading skills. And the last skill is writing, it describe the description of what writing is as it relates to young learners and also the background information on teaching of writing as part of physical and cognitive development. The explanations of the steps of process writing are presented including the types of writing that children can produce in the classroom. Chapter 6, this chapter includes the latest vocabulary research as it applies to young learners. It discusses the explanations of what vocabulary is as well as background information which help the teacher as the plan or written-language program. It also consists of the techniques which can be used to teach vocabulary to young learners. Chapter 7, this chapter explains the importance of working with parents as well as strategies which can be used to create a positive home-school connection. Chapter 8, this chapter provides information how to assess both oral and written language skills in a young learner program. Chapter 9, this last chapter deals with the3 key issues facing teachers of young learners.

Based on the summary of Practical English Language Teaching ; Young Learners book above, I think this book has complete material. It consist of nine chapters that each chapter has complete explanation. The language used is easily to understand by the reader. The author also describes how to teach the English with the interesting methods. This book also provides a sample of worksheet  each end of the chapter. This worksheet can be referenced when a teacher teaches. In this book there are so many interesting features. Among them is Reflection Column. It contains questions that invite the readers o think about critical issues in young learners language teaching and Action activities requiring readers to apply the ideas, principles, and techniques to the teaching of young learners in their own situation. It’s also has a practical illustrations that accompanied the interesting picture. It’s makes the reader interested to read. Then there are many more features in this book. So, this book is very good especially for teachers.