LA T3.04Conversation About Real Experiences
The adult has short, one-to-one conversations with the child about what the child is doing, has done, or is interested in, listening and adding to what the child says.
Presentation
- 1
Choose a calm moment: a meal, a diaper change, dressing, or when the child comes to you. Get down to the child's eye level.
- 2
Start from what the child is looking at or doing: "You found a leaf."
- 3
Wait. Give the child at least five seconds to answer before you speak again. This is the point of interest: the child adds something in the pause.
- 4
Repeat what the child says and add one or two words. Child: "Doggie." Adult: "Yes, a big dog. The dog is barking."
- 5
If the child says a word incorrectly, say it correctly in your sentence without asking them to repeat it. Child: "Nana." Adult: "Yes, a banana."
- 6
Ask one question at a time, and prefer questions with more than a yes-or-no answer: "What did the dog do?"
- 7
End the conversation kindly when the child turns back to their work.
Extensions, easiest to hardest
- Conversation at the table with two or three children and one adult
- Talking about something that happened earlier today or yesterday
- Naming feelings in conversation: "You were sad when Papa left."
- The child starts a conversation with another child, with the adult nearby to help
Control of error
The adult, who notices when they have misunderstood, repeats back what they think the child said, and lets the child correct them.
Ready to move on when the child…
- Starts conversations with adults by pointing, bringing objects, or speaking
- Answers with words when the adult pauses
- Uses two- and three-word sentences about real events
- Takes two or more turns on one topic
Guide note
A child learning English as a second language often goes through a quiet period in the new language, in which they listen and understand before they speak; this is expected and is not a delay. Accept answers in the home language, answer in the language you speak, and encourage families to keep talking with the child in the home language. Correct by saying the word correctly, never by asking the child to say it again.