Teaching english in the first triad of the primary school using elements of Montessori pedagogic

摘要

Early foreign language teaching in primary schools is moving from the fourth grade to lower grades. This means that the didactical and methodological approaches will have to be updated and implemented to the seven year- old child’s learning abilities. By using the elements of Maria Montessori’s pedagogical method, we can enrich the process of early language learning. In the thesis, the reader learns about the multilingualism and the early foreign language learning around the world and in Slovenia. The thesis also summarizes the recommendations proposed by the White Book of Education, 2011 and the recommendations of the National learning plan for the early foreign language learning. The reader can also learn about the Modern early foreign language teaching approaches that are currently used in Slovenian schools. In the second part, Maria Montessori’s pedagogical method is discussed. However, the main focus is on the Montessori language curriculum, her model of teaching foreign languages and the materials that could be used at the early language learning level in Slovenian public schools. The third part of the thesis discusses the observations of the learning processes that are related to the early English language learning. Finally, the implementation of foreign languages into Slovenian public schools is compared to the one with the Montessori environment.