ENGLISH FOR INFANT ~ Nyalan Ilmu

I. DEFINITION

An infant or baby is the very young offspring of humans. A newborn is an infant who is within hours, days, or up to a few weeks from birth. In medical contexts, newborn or neonate (from Latin, neonatus, newborn) refers to an infant in the first 28 days after birth.^[1] The term "newborn" includes premature infants, postmature infants and full term newborns. The term infant is derived from the Latin word infans, meaning "unable to speak" or "speechless." It is typically applied to children between the ages of 1 month and 12 months; however, definitions vary between birth and 3 years of age. "Infant" is also a legal term referring to any child under the age of legal adulthood.

II. TEACHING ENGLISH FOR INFANT

An early childhood educator prior to carrying out learning activities first need to consider the characteristics of children who are educated and taught for the learning program in accordance with the development dimension of the kids that includes dimensions of cognitive, language, creativity, emotional and social.

The general characteristics of early age children may include:

A. From the cognitive aspect:

1. They already have the ability to interpret the meaning / significance.

2. They have the power of attention and concentrations are limited.

3. They already have the power of imagination.

4. They understand the situation

B. From the affective aspects:

1. They were happy to find and create something

2. They love to talk

3. They love to play and work alone

4. They are interested in activities that are relevant to them

C. From the aspect of psycho-motor:

1. They have skills in using language in a limited but creative.

2. They can learn by doing something

3. They learn English by using it

4. They can work with adults

5. They will learn best when they engage in activities that are relevant to themselves

By considering the characteristics of these children, English language learning goals for early childhood, generally can be determined as follows:

1. Makes children feel competent and confident in learning English

2. Provide a safe learning environment, is entertaining and recreational and educational

3. English language learners to create long-term

While the scope of English language learning for early childhood skills include listening, speaking, reading and writing as well as components of vocabulary, pronunciation and language structure. Everything has to be adjusted to the ability of children who are taught.

The methods of English learning for early childhood, which can be used, are:

1. Playing (and singing)

2. Converse

3. Tell

4. Demonstration

5. Study tours

6. Project

7. Granting duty

III. IMPACT

1. Positive Impact

Children's brain like a bottle that is still empty, not filled by anything. If we are content with English lessons so their absorption is very high. With thinking like that, children are more likely to learn English. Moreover, if the child enjoys the lessons we give, certainly the children master English more quickly.

Kindergarten age children usually easier to digest the lessons at school, including home. The kids at that age tend to follow the Things They like. For example, at this time have a lot of tv shows That teach English. Moreover, many cartoon shows, that using two languages, Indonesia and English.

With so many opinions from experts on language learning in children, proving that the languages taught home to Children is Easier than teach it to Adults. Although, in a study of children would rather play than learning. However, we can teach Home in a Way That They like. For example, just by watching tv, it's been a lot of tv shows That language use England. That may be one way for children's learning.

Because children tend to follow what they see and hear. By doing so, saw that the English language that is critically important and very useful for us. At this time, if we do not speak English we will be hard to get a job. Because the proposed requirements companies now is to speak English.

It appears that teaching English to children more easily controlled than teach it to adults. It is not wrong for us if teaching English language support to the children of today. Because at the age of their children tend to be more control and want to always do the things they like. Make English the fun things for them.

2. Negative Impact

Although the multilingual capabilities, it is believed will of some bring a positive impact on children, but also feared to give a negative impact. One negative impact is the semi-language. Children are taught Home but not cans their master's language intact. As a result, the ability becomes all-round responsibility and mixed-steering language.

Many children - children now feel more confident and WHO slang when using these mixed languages. This clearly reduces the rules and validity of the will of some of the national Indonesian language itself.

Examples of the influence of the English language, namely: If the boy wanted to scold or speak harshly spoken is "Shit", "damn" or a foreign language means harsh words.

According to Gabriel, when children start school and introduced a new language in school, exposure of the mother tongue gradually began to decrease. "Maybe this will make an impact, of the limitations of children to master both languages. This can lead to difficulties in the field of academic and social abilities of children later, "said Gabriel. Therefore, according to Gabriel, a child should have first mastered his native language, before it was introduced in additional languages.

III. CONCLUSION

From the brief description above, we can conclude that in accordance with the characteristics of early childhood, English language learning activities should be entertaining, recreational, and educational for their motivation at this time will be maintained or even improved in the future so that the learning English will continue throughout their lives.

Finally, English language learning for infant is a dynamic field so that we can be sure will have always experienced changes. However, the task of educators for young children remains the same i.e. foster understanding and use of their language through planning, supervision and provision of adequate support facilities.

REFERENCES

Klein, Kerstin. 2005. Teaching the World’s Children. English Teaching Forum

Moon, Jayne. 2000. Children Learning English. Oxford: Macmillan Publishers Limited

Carme Flores, et al. Learning a Foreign Language in Infant. University Ramon Llull.

Moeslichatoen. 1999. Metode Pengajaran di Taman Kanak-Kanak. Jakarta: Penerbit Rineka Cipta