Connecting with Younger Students

When I first started working with younger students, I quickly realised that things were very different from working with teenagers.

With younger students, you can’t always expect them to sit quietly, listen to a long explanation and then complete an activity. They want to move, talk, play, ask questions and have fun. And honestly, that’s what makes working with them so much fun.

I found that building a good relationship with younger students was less about what I taught and more about how I made them feel in the classroom.

Get involved

One of the easiest ways I found to connect with younger students was to join in with them.

If we were playing a game, I played too. If we were singing a song, I wasn't afraid to sing along. If we were doing an activity, I got involved instead of just standing at the front of the classroom.

Younger students respond really well when they can see that you're enjoying yourself and being silly. They see you as a fun teacher.

Learn their names

Learning names is especially important with younger students, but it's definitely easier said than done.

I tried to learn everyone's name as quickly as possible and use them during activities. I definitely got them mixed up from time to time, but I just played it off as a game, pretending that I have forgotten their name. For them even something as simple as saying, "Well done, Maria!" can make a student feel noticed and encouraged.

You don't need to remember everything about every student straight away. Just showing that you're making the effort goes a long way.

Make English fun

I cannot stress how important this one is. One of my biggest lessons was that younger students don't need to feel like they're "studying" English all the time.

Games, songs, stories, movement and competitions can all become opportunities to practise English without making it feel like a traditional lesson.

I found that the more fun the activity was, the more willing students were to join in, even if they were still learning the language.

My one rule for making sure that the lesson is fun is: If I am having fun and a good time then I know my students are too.

Celebrate the small things

Younger students can get excited about the smallest things, so I learned to celebrate their progress too.

Getting an answer right, remembering a new word or having the confidence to speak English in front of the class can all be a big achievement.

A simple "Well done!" or a high five can make a student's day.

Let them get to know you

Just like with older students, younger students are curious about you too.

I talked to them about where I was from, my family, my favourite foods, animals, sports and things I liked doing. Sometimes I would bring photos or objects from home to give them something to ask me about.

These little conversations helped turn me from "the new language assistant" into someone they were excited to see in the classroom. And honestly, I think that motivated me to try to be the best language assistant I could be. Imagine walking into a classroom and your students faces light up as they shout your name with excitement.

Enjoy it

Working with younger students can be loud, unpredictable and occasionally exhausting, but it can also be incredibly rewarding.

They get excited when they see you, they aren't afraid to ask questions and they will often surprise you with how much they remember.

For me, the best part was seeing students become more confident using English without even realising they were doing it.

You don't need to be a perfect teacher to build a connection with younger students. Be enthusiastic, be patient, get involved and, most importantly, have fun with them.