Widening Kids’ Vocabulary for an Improved EIKEN Scores

EIKEN test is approaching.

For a while, I have been conducting EIKEN tests here at Yumekirara school. Initially, I wanted to experience it because I want to see what kind of test items appear on this test. I wanted to include EIKEN style lessons in our curriculum. So far, we have included identifying the initial alphabet of words in our phonics activities. We are also doing role-play activities in class which also appear in the dialog sections of the test. But, I personally think improving kids’ vocabulary will greatly help them achieve higher scores.

As part of my monthly goal, I have asked kids to make a wall of vocabulary.

I wanted them to make a wall dictionary where they would write unfamiliar words they see, read, hear, or watch from TV. Since this will be their first time doing it, I made a list of vocabs for father’s day and the rainy season because next month is June. For now, it’s a seasonal vocab list.

I was surprised at how kids showed their creativity by drawing. It looks amazing!

Then, another goal occurred to me. I’d like to make use of the kids’ great skills. We’ll make a CVC booklet! When it’s ready, I can use it as phonics practice for our first and second graders during free time. By then they will be more familiar with the phonic sounds of each alphabet, and putting the sounds together will be easier for them. I’m really excited for this next activity. When it’s done, I’m also going to make a blog about it.

I would also like to take advantage of the students’ great memory or recall. I have taught Japanese to both kids and adults, and I noticed that they are really good at memorizing. So, after the kids Q and A routine and phonics recitation, they are paired to do simple vocab recitation. I sorted the words into different topics such as fruits, animals, colors, food, sports, instruments, verbs or action words, weather, seasonal words, transportation, and etc. These are picture cards with both English and Japanese translation.