Hello, everyone! 👋
Today we'll focus on teaching English to children in Year 1 and Year 2 which doesn’t require using complicated language. Simple, everyday phrases are a wonderful way to help young learners feel confident and start using English naturally in the classroom.
In this post, you’ll find some easy English phrases that you can start using right away, plus a fun little game to encourage your pupils to speak!
🏆 Let’s get them talking!
One of my favourite ways to encourage children to use English is to turn it into a team game!
At the beginning of the lesson, divide the class into two or more teams. Then introduce the English phrases of the day.
👉 With Year 1, I recommend introducing no more than two phrases at a time. Since children are not yet confident readers, introduce the phrases orally, using gestures, repetition and lots of modelling.
👉 With Year 2, you can introduce up to three phrases and write them on the board. Keep them there throughout the lesson so children can look at them whenever they need some help.
Now comes the fun part!
Every time a child uses one of the target phrases naturally, their team gets one point. ⭐ The important thing is that children are encouraged to use the phrases for a real reason, rather than simply repeating them after the teacher.
For example, if today's phrases are:
Can I have a pencil, please?
Can you help me, please?
When a child needs a pencil and remembers to ask in English:
🎉 One point for the team!
This creates a fun reason to speak English and, before long, children start listening carefully for opportunities to use the phrases.
But which phrases are useful and easy to learn at the same time?
👋 1. Greetings
Starting every lesson with simple greetings can quickly become a fun and reassuring routine.
A great way to introduce this language, especially with younger children, is through a song!
Here are 3 different ones you can choose from according to your class' mood of the day ;)
🎵 Hello! | Kids Greeting Song and Feelings Song – Super Simple Songs
🎵 The Greeting Song – Maple Leaf Learning
🎵 Hello Song for Kids | Greeting Song for Kids – The Singing Walrus
Use them at the beginning of the lesson, sing them together (modelling) and encourage children to join in with gestures and actions. After the song, you can start using some of the same expressions in your classroom:
- Hello!
- Good morning!
- Hi, everyone!
- How are you today?
- Are you ready?
- Let’s start!
- Goodbye!
- See you next time!
For Year 1, I would focus on just one or two expressions at a time and let children learn them through listening, repetition and movement.
For Year 2, you can choose two or three expressions and write them on the board so children can use them independently during the lesson.
✨ Tip: Make the song part of your regular classroom routine. After a few lessons, you may find that children automatically know that when the song starts, it’s time to switch to English!
And remember: the more fun it is, the more they will want to join in! 🎶
🙋 2. Simple Requests
Young learners can also learn a few useful phrases to ask for something, ask for help or communicate their needs in English.
Here are some great ones to start with:
- Can I go to the toilet, please?
- Can I have a pencil, please?
- Can you help me, please?
- Can you say it again, please?
- I don’t understand.
- Can I have a turn, please?
- I’m finished!
Don’t introduce all of them at once., but choose two or three phrases, depending on the age of your pupils, and use them regularly. The more children hear and use these expressions, the more naturally they will become part of their classroom English.
🌟 Keep it simple!
With young learners, repetition is your best friend. Choose a couple of phrases, practise them through real classroom situations and give your pupils a reason to use them. And remember:
Little phrases, big progress! 🌈
Happy teaching, and… let’s get them talking! 💛
