The Most Important Thing to Teach a Young Language Learner

Course Title: The Most Important Thing to Teach a Young Language Learner: Phonemic Awareness 🎓✨

Headline: Unlock Language Mastery: Mastering Phonemic Awareness with Young Learners!

Introduction: I assert that phonemic awareness (PA) stands as the most pivotal skill for young learners embarking on the journey of a foreign language. This claim is rooted in two indisputable truths: firstly, PA's fundamental role in language acquisition; secondly, the stark reality that its mastery becomes progressively more challenging with time. As we delve into this course, we will uncover why PA is not just beneficial but absolutely essential for listening, speaking, and reading proficiency.

Why Phonemic Awareness is Key:

• Critical Foundation for Literacy: For native speakers, PA is the most significant predictor of literacy success. For young language learners, its importance in reading cannot be overstated. Yet, its role extends beyond reading—it's equally vital for listening and speaking skills.
• The Window of Opportunity: The sooner we teach PA, the more effective it is. As children grow older, learning to differentiate and manipulate sounds becomes increasingly difficult. This course emphasizes the importance of starting as early as possible.

Course Content Breakdown:

• Understanding Phonemic Awareness: We'll explore what PA entails and why it's the bedrock of language learning. 📚➡️🎶
• Effective Teaching Methods: Introducing High Variability Phonemic Training (HVPT), a method proven to be highly effective in teaching phonemic skills. ✅🔍
• Practical Application: This course is designed for both theoretical understanding and hands-on practice. You will learn the principles of HVPT, and how to implement them effectively. 📹➡️🏫
• Real-World Application: With downloadable videos, you can take the tools from this course into your classroom and apply them directly to your teaching practice. 🎥👩‍🏫👨‍🏫

High Variability Phonemic Training (HVPT):

• Audibility: Teaching learners to hear the sounds that are difficult for them requires making those sounds audible. HVPT does just that, bringing harder sounds into sharper focus. 🔊👂
• Contrast and Exaggeration: By contrasting and exaggerating sounds, learners can begin to distinguish and eventually master the subtleties of a new language's phonemic structure. 🌟🎭
• Training in HVPT: This course provides ample training in HVPT techniques, enabling you to effectively teach these skills to your students. 🎓🛠️

Conclusion: Don't miss this opportunity to transform the way you approach language learning, particularly for young learners. Phonemic Awareness is not just beneficial—it's a game-changer. Enroll now and take the first step towards empowering your students with the most important tool in their linguistic journey. 🚀🌍🫫

Join me, Jim Jensenc, on this enlightening adventure into the world of language learning. Let's make PA a cornerstone of our teaching and watch as our young learners blossom into confident communicators. Let's embark on this journey together! 🧭🚀