Children are:

• less self conscious
• more open
• more flexible
• more imiginative
• more curious
• acquire rather then learn
• easier to motivate
• want to please
• ability to imitate sounds
• tune in more easily
• their desire to communicate is powerfull

• learning is natural
• learning is contextualised and part of a event (MEANING)
• learning is interesting and enjoyable
• learning is relevant
• learning is social (MEANING)
• learning belongs to the child
• learning has a purpose for the child
• learning builds on things the child knows
• learning makes sence to the child
• the child is challenged appropriately
• learning is supported appropriately
• learning is part of a coherent whole
• learning is multi-sensory
• learning is active and experiental
• learning is memorable
• learning allows for personal, divergent responses
• learning takes account of multiple intelligences
• the learning atmosphere is relaxed and warm
• there is a sense of achievement.

• Children want meaning so we need to expose them to comprehensible, meaningful language.
• They learn in situations so we need to use any oppertunity for spontaneos language use and also consciously create such situations.
• They are excellent mimics so we must give them the chance to imitate us.
• They learn ready-made phrases with ease so instead of just individual words, we should teach them whole chunks of language.
• They learn when they have fun so we need to look out for activities with a fun element.
• They learn when they can join in the action so we need to support their language use by action.
• They learn when they want something very much so we can use these cravings to good effect, for meaningful language use.
• They learn when they can use their senses so why don't we do a lot of touching and seeing and hearing. Action songs, finger rhymes, activities involving simple actions are also ideal.
• They learn when the hear something again and again so they need repeated hearings of songs, stories and classroom language.
• They learn naturally so we should NOT teach them analytically.

The  content of our lessons needs to be simple and natural. So must the language.

1. You are deeply involved in a challenging activity that requires skills.
2. The task has clear goals.
3. Youre attention is completely absorbed by the activity.
4. you have a sense of controle
5. You don't see yourself as separate from what you are doing.
6. You are completely focussed; you are able to lose the worries and frustrations of everyday life
7. You have no worries of failure
8. There is a transformation of time: it seems to pass much faster.