Young Learners Review of Related Theories

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5. Young Learners

a. Definition of Young Learners In this research, young learners mean children from the fourth grade of Primary School 9 - 10 years old. They have special characteristics in learning that are different from teens or adult Harmer, 2001. b. The Characteristics of Young Learner Young learners of a language have several unique characteristics. Based on Moon 2005, there are many characteristics of young learners. First, they like to use language creatively. The teachers should give positive feedback in order to encourage the students to speak confidently. Second, young learners tend to go for meaning. Children are able to make sense of what is happening in a situation Moon, 2005. They work based on clues provided by situation to convey meaning of words. The third characteristic is that the children use “chunks” of language. They can absorb the chunk well and take part in conversations. Teaching children chunk may be very helpful in the early stage of language learning Moon, 2005. Fourth, children like to have fun. They enjoy playing games without considering that indirectly they are learning something. Children are naturally curious and active Moon, 2005. Teachers can accommodate this characteristic by designing activities that involves their kinesthetic intelligence. There are still many characteristics of young learners stated, but the writer will focus only in these characteristics. 21 c. Speaking Materials for Young Learners The years of primary education are extremely important in children’s intellectual, physical, emotional, and social development Phillips Maley, 2003. Considering the characteristics of young learners, the speaking materials should enable students to get involved in the lessons and participate freely if the teacher gives them activities to do. Therefore, teachers should give them suitable topics and tasks Harmer, 2007. The students sometimes are reluctant to speak. They are reluctant because they are shy and feel uncomfortable to speak in front of teachers Harmer, 2007. The possible solutions are by being friendly to the students and creating good atmosphere in the learning process. d. Speaking Materials Based on Multiple Intelligences Theory