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Top 33 Nursery Rhymes For Children In English

Top 33 Nursery Rhymes For Children In English

Author: Nicole Sage

Date: 12/05/2023

Author: Nicole Sage

Date: 07/12/2022

Nursery rhymes can be a fun and effective way for children to learn English as a second language. 

These rhymes often incorporate simple language, repetitive patterns, and catchy melodies that make them easy for young learners to remember and sing along with. 

Using nursery rhymes to complement your child’s existing learning is a great way to support their studies. Here are 33 popular nursery rhymes in English that children all around the world can enjoy.

Top 33 Nursery Rhymes For Children In English

  • Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star

Twinkle, twinkle, little star,

How I wonder what you are!

Up above the world so high,

Like a diamond in the sky.


  • Mary Had a Little Lamb

Mary had a little lamb,

Its fleece was white as snow,

And everywhere that Mary went,

The lamb was sure to go.


  • Baa, Baa, Rainbow Sheep

Baa, baa, rainbow sheep,

Have you any wool?

Yes, sir, yes, sir,

Three bags full.


  • The Wheels on the Bus

The wheels on the bus go round and round,

Round and round, round and round,

The wheels on the bus go round and round,

All through the town.


  • Old MacDonald Had a Farm

Old MacDonald had a farm,

E-I-E-I-O,

And on his farm he had a cow,

E-I-E-I-O.


  • Itsy Bitsy Spider

The itsy bitsy spider climbed up the water spout,

Down came the rain and washed the spider out,

Out came the sun and dried up all the rain,

And the itsy bitsy spider climbed up the spout again.


  • Hickory Dickory Dock

Hickory dickory dock,

The mouse ran up the clock.

The clock struck one,

And down he run,

Hickory dickory dock.


  • Row, Row, Row Your Boat

Row, row, row your boat,

Gently down the stream,

Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily,

Life is but a dream.


  • London Bridge Is Falling Down

London Bridge is falling down,

Falling down, falling down,

London Bridge is falling down,

My fair lady.


  • Jack and Jill

Jack and Jill went

up the hill,

To fetch a pail of water.

Jack fell down and broke his crown,

And Jill came tumbling after.

  • Humpty Dumpty

Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall,

Humpty Dumpty had a great fall.

All the king’s horses and all the king’s men,

Couldn’t put Humpty together again.


  • Mary, Mary, Quite Contrary

Mary, Mary, quite contrary,

How does your garden grow?

With silver bells and cockle shells,

And pretty maids all in a row.


  • Yankee Doodle

Yankee Doodle went to town,

Riding on a pony,

Stuck a feather in his cap,

And called it macaroni.


  • Ring Around the Rosie

Ring around the rosie,

A pocket full of posies,

Ashes, ashes,

We all fall down.


  • Three Blind Mice

Three blind mice, three blind mice,

See how they run, see how they run,

They all ran after the farmer’s wife,

Who cut off their tails with a carving knife.


  • This Old Man

This old man, he played one,

He played knick-knack on my thumb,

With a knick-knack paddywhack, give a dog a bone,

This old man came rolling home.


  • Pop Goes the Weasel

Pop goes the weasel,

The weasel goes pop,

All around the mulberry bush,

The monkey chased the weasel.


  • The Farmer in the Dell

The farmer in the dell,

The farmer in the dell,

Hi-ho, the derry-o,

The farmer in the dell.


  • Pat-a-Cake

Pat-a-cake, pat-a-cake, baker’s man,

Bake me a cake as fast as you can,

Pat it and prick it and mark it with a “B”,

And put it in the oven for baby and me.


  • Mary, Had a Baby

Mary had a baby, yes, Lord,

Mary had a baby, yes, my Lord,

Mary had a baby, yes, Lord,

The people keep-a-comin’ and the train done gone.


  • Polly, Put the Kettle On

Polly, put the kettle on,

Polly, put the kettle on,

Polly, put the kettle on,

We’ll all have tea.


  • Simple Simon

Simple Simon met a pieman,

Going to the fair,

Says Simple Simon to the pieman,

Let me taste your ware.


  • Ten Little Indians

One little, two little, three little Indians,

Four little, five little, six little Indians,

Seven little, eight little, nine little Indians,

Ten little Indian boys.


  • The Muffin Man

Oh, do you know the muffin man,

The muffin man, the muffin man,

Oh, do you know the muffin man,

Who lives on Drury Lane?


  • The Grand Old Duke of York

Oh, the grand old Duke of York,

He had ten thousand men,

And he marched them down again.


  • Rock-a-Bye Baby

Rock-a-bye baby, in the treetop,

When the wind blows, the cradle will rock,

When the bough breaks, the cradle will fall,

And down will come baby, cradle and all.


  • The Alphabet Song

A-B-C-D-E-F-G,

H-I-J-K-LMNOP,

Q-R-S-T-U-V,

W-X-Y and Z,

Now I know my ABCs,

Next time, won’t you sing with me?


  • She’ll Be Coming Round the Mountain

She’ll be coming round the mountain when she comes,

She’ll be coming round the mountain when she comes,

She’ll be coming round the mountain,

She’ll be coming round the mountain,

She’ll be coming round the mountain when she comes.


  • Little Miss Muffet

Little Miss Muffet,

Sat on a tuffet,

Eating her curds and whey,

Along came a spider,

And sat down beside her,

And frightened Miss Muffet away.

 

  1. Sing A Song of Sixpence

Sing a song of sixpence a pocket full of rye,

Four and twenty blackbirds baked in a pie.

When the pie was opened the birds began to sing,

Oh wasn’t that a dainty dish to set before the king?

The king was in his counting house counting out his money,

The queen was in the parlour eating bread and honey

The maid was in the garden hanging out the clothes,

When down came a blackbird and pecked off her nose!

 

  1. Oranges and Lemons

 

Oranges and lemons,
Say the bells of St. Clement’s.

You owe me five farthings,
Say the bells of St. Martin’s.

When will you pay me?
Say the bells of Old Bailey.

When I grow rich,
Say the bells of Shoreditch.

When will that be?
Say the bells of Stepney.

I do not know,
Says the great bell of Bow.

Here comes a candle to light you to bed, And here comes a chopper to chop off your head!

  1. There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly

There was an old lady who swallowed a fly
I don’t know why she swallowed a fly – perhaps she’ll die!


There was an old lady who swallowed a spider,
That wriggled and wiggled and tiggled inside her;
She swallowed the spider to catch the fly;
I don’t know why she swallowed a fly – Perhaps she’ll die!

  1. Tom, Tom, the Piper’s Son

Tom, Tom, the piper’s son,

Stole a pig, and away did run;

The pig was eat

And Tom was beat,

And Tom went crying

Down the street.

Nursery rhymes are an essential part of early childhood education. They play a crucial role in the development of children’s language and literacy skills, helping children develop their vocabulary, memory, and imagination. They also introduce children to basic concepts such as counting, colours, and shapes.

The top 40 nursery rhymes for children listed above are some of the most popular and well-known rhymes in the English language. Parents and educators can use these rhymes to introduce children to the joys of reading and to help them develop a love for language and literacy.

Whether it’s singing “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star” to a newborn baby or reciting “Mary Had a Little Lamb” with a group of preschoolers, nursery rhymes are an excellent way to engage children and help them develop essential skills that will serve them throughout their lives.

Looking to take your young learners’ English language to the next level? Our English classes for children aged 5-15 will take them from beginner to confident English speaker, book your course today.

Meridian English - more than just English lessons.

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What Music Should I Listen To When Learning English

What Music Should I Listen To When Learning English?

Author: Nicole Sage

Date: 04/05/2023

Author: Nicole Sage

Date: 04/05/2023

Music is a great way to improve your English language skills. Not only is it entertaining, but it can also help you develop your listening, speaking, and vocabulary skills. We’ve already touched on before in our blog how listening to the language in mediums such as movies is such a powerful, and fun way to learn and widen your vocabulary. 

When choosing music to listen to while learning English, it is important to consider a few factors, such as the tempo of the music, the lyrics, and the genre

At Meridian English, here are some of our top tips on choosing the right type of music to listen to when learning English. 

What Music Should I Listen To When Learning English?

Choose songs with clear lyrics

When you are learning English, it is important to choose songs with clear lyrics that are easy to understand. 

If you listen to songs with complicated or ambiguous lyrics, it may be difficult to understand the words and follow the meaning of the song. 

Songs that have clear and simple lyrics will help you develop your vocabulary and grammar skills, and they will also help you to understand the melody and rhythm of English language.

  1. Listen to songs with a slow tempo

Listening to songs with a slow tempo will allow you to follow the lyrics and understand the words and phrases used in the song. 

Songs with a slow tempo are also helpful for pronunciation practice. You can sing along to the lyrics and pay attention to the way the words are pronounced.

  1. Try different genres of music

English language music is diverse, with a variety of genres such as pop, rock, rap, hip-hop, and country. 

Listening to different genres of music will help you to understand the different styles and rhythms of English language. 

Music is a great way to learn new vocabulary. When you come across new words or phrases in a song, write them down and look up their meaning. You can also create flashcards or use online tools to practice the new vocabulary you have learned. This will help you to expand your vocabulary and improve your language skills.

  1. Focus on the lyrics

Read the lyrics and try to understand the meaning of the words and phrases used in the song. 

Don’t be afraid to listen to the song multiple times to really get an understanding of the words used in the song, this will help you to understand the context in which certain words and phrases are used.

  1. Sing along

For young learners and beyond, one of the best ways to improve your English language skills is simply to sing along to English songs!

This will help you to practice your pronunciation, intonation, and rhythm. You can also practice your listening skills by singing along to the lyrics and paying attention to the melody and rhythm of the song.

  1. Watch music videos with subtitles

Watching music videos with subtitles is a great way to improve your listening and reading skills. 

You can follow the lyrics of the song while watching the video, which will help you to understand the meaning of the words and phrases used in the song. You can also practice your pronunciation by singing along to the song while watching the video.

Meridian English Recommends: 5 Top English Songs To Listen To

Thanks to Youtube and the online accessibility of music these days, there are so many great English songs to choose from, but here are a few recommendations that are perfect for helping to widen your English vocabulary and confidence with the language. 

Adele – Hello

Adele’s song ‘Hello’ is a potent tool for English learners due to its slow introduction and lucid lyrics. 

Specifically, for beginners in English, her distinct London accent is conducive to becoming familiar with novel vocabulary and expressions.

Ed Sheeran – Shape of You

Ed Sheeran – Shape of You is a hugely popular English song that has easy to learn lyrics. It also helps that it has a super catchy melody which makes it fun to follow along with. 

OneRepublic - Counting Stars

A great song for English learners, a memorable melody, and uses common expressions that can be useful for everyday conversation. Don’t forget to follow along with the lyrics on the screen!

Coldplay - Viva La Vida

Featuring poetic and descriptive lyrics, this song can help learners to expand their vocabulary and improve their understanding of figurative language in English. 

However, you’ll soon find that it can become undeniably hard to listen to this song without singing along!

Snow Patrol - Chasing Cars

The last of our top picks is Snow Patrol – Chasing Cars. The song’s slow and melodic pace can also make it a good choice for learners who want to practice their listening and pronunciation skills. 

Music is a great way to improve your English language skills, it’s fun, educational and can help you practice that perfect singing voice too! 

We’d love to hear what your favourite songs to learn English are, do let us know in the comments below. 

Want to take your child’s English language learning to the next step? Our online English classes will take your child from beginner to confident English speaker. Get in touch for more information. 

2022 Meridian English Awards: we are proud of our students

2022 Meridian English Awards: we are proud of our students

Author: Anna Steindel

Date: 23/12/2022

Author: Anna Steindel

Date: 23/12/2022

We are about to end the year 2022. For us, at Meridian English, this is a great opportunity to reward our students for their work in our online English classes during the whole year. All of our students deserve to be congratulated for their hard work and dedication in their courses. However, our teachers want to recognize the particular progress in some specific aspects. In today’s article, we will present you with 5 categories and their winners. 

The idea of rewarding students

We have often mentioned that rewards play an important role in the educational process. Rewards motivate learners and inspires them to study, and appreciating effort and results reinforces for kids that hard work pays off. Thanks to this kids feel proud of the fact that they work hard to achieve their set goals.

Rewarding has a positive impact on the educational process

Congratulations, appreciation or praise gives instant results. Thanks to this, toddlers’ behavior can change quickly and effectively. Children will respond from an early age and they will build good habits – more about motivation. You can read about this here. For all these reasons, we want to say goodbye to the year by introducing you to the children who have excelled the most in our online English classes during this year 2022. Read on to discover the Meridian English award categories

Meridian English Attendance Award

Are you wondering what is behind this award? Attendance Award – it is above all regular presence and correct use of our own developed Student Portal. We are pleased to be able to nominate such an award, especially since regular attendance at classes brings long-lasting effects and allows for effective repetition of material. This, in turn, allows you to quickly become confident and proficient in English – take a look at our methodology.  

The 2022 Attendance Award goes to ShiHang Zhou (Zoe) from China

Our 6-year-old student, Zoe, was present in all her 2022 classes, during the course at Meridian School of English. She was able to achieve a 100% attendance in 2022. But they have not been the only one, we also want to highlight other students who have excelled in this category by being present for more than the 90% of their online English classes. These are Liu Luoqi (Lokey) from China, Nicole Da Silva from Italy, Mingze Qin (Charles) from China, Alice Lisco from Italy and Evrim Gençel from Turkey. For all these students, regular attendance has meant being able to learn English in a much easier and more effective way.

Meridian English Kindness Award

We think that one of the keys to effective learning is a healthy and productive learning environment. How can we achieve this? Being for ourselves polite and forgiving during class. The nominees for the Meridian English Kindness Award are Xiaoxi Xin (Cici), Junxi Chen (Ethan) and Ruoyi Xi (Grace) from China and Nicole Da Silva from Italy. But since we can only pick one winner…  

The 2022 Kindness Award goes to Nicole Da Silva from Italy

You want to know why Nicole is the best in this category. Well, this is what your English teacher told us: “Nicole listens intently to others and smiles encouragingly when they answer. She is very friendly and welcoming to all new members of class”. Having such students at Meridian English is a pure pleasure for us!  

Meridian English Confidence Award

Our next award is related to courage and gaining confidence. With this title, we want to promote faith in yourself which we believe is really important for students, particularly for children. It is not without reason that our motto is “from beginner to confident English speaker”. We care not only about the development of language skills but also about the self-improvement of our students. Our teachers have nominated the following students in this category: Davide Russo from Italy, Evrim Gençel from Turkey, Yicheng Zhang (Dora) and Chenyi Zhang (James) and Keira Zhang (Keira) from China, and Carla Rodríguez from Spain.

The 2022 Confidence Award goes to Evrim Gençel from Turkey

“Evrim has grown in confidence exceptionally over the course of a few months. She always says hello and tries to speak with other members of the class before class has started. She always asks to read and reads loudly, confidentially and clearly” this is why Evrim Gençel has made us fall in love during our online English classes with the rest of the Meridian English classmates.   

  

Meridian English Attitude Award

The Attitude Award is an award that aims to promote a positive attitude and positive learning habits in our students. This is a reward for someone who is constantly contributing a positive attitude to our activities and cares about a good atmosphere during the online English course. There is no shortage of such students in our school, and among the nominees were: Gloria Arnone from Italy, Jiabao Wei (YiYi), Keira Zhang (Keira) and Yang Cui (Crystal) from China, Mehmet Tuna Gönül from Turkey and Danica Mitic from Sweden.  

The 2022 Attitude Award goes to Jiabao Wei (YiYi) - China

Here is the reason, why YiYi has been awarded in this category: “She has come to class eager to learn and participate every class since I started teaching her in March. She has never shown disinterest or impolite behavior, and is a pleasure to teach her”. It is spectacular to have students who are capable of this behavior in our online English classes for children.

Meridian English Tech-wizard Award

The final category is the Tech-wizard Award. As we are an online English school for children and we care a lot about technology education during our classes – something we have also championed through our social media, we want to promote the use of technology during our classes. Our teachers have chosen three students who are great with technology: Shijia Chen (Cindy) and Zixuan Cong (Leo) from China and Emil Vichev from Bulgaria.  

The 2022 Tech-wizard Award goes to Emil Vichev - Bulgaria

According to our teachers, the title of Tech-wizard is given to Emil. Why? Because “he shows great ability at using his device, always has his camera on and is in good view, and has learned to always turn off his mic if there is background noise”. This 8-year-old has learned to use technology not only for his own good but also for more effective learning for his peers.  

Here are the nominees and winners of our 2022 Meridian English Awards. As we have often mentioned, we are very proud of all our students. Therefore congratulations to all! What is certain is that from the beginning of 2023, at Meridian English we will improve children skills and help them to learn English together with pleasure. We also take advantage of this article to wish all the students of our online English classes for children and their families, Merry Christmas and a prosperous 2023

TOP 5 Christmas English movies for kids

TOP 5 Christmas English movies for kids

Author: Anna Steindel

Date: 20/12/2022

Author: Anna Steindel

Date: 20/12/2022

Christmas is the perfect opportunity to spend time together. At Meridian English, we know the importance of regularity in learning – as we have already mentioned on our blog. In addition to regular classes, it is worth helping students with creative, pleasant solutions that can be used during the Christmas break. Our educational method is based on fun and the interests of children for effective learning. That is why, we really recommend you watch films as a compliment to English classes. Therefore, we encourage children to watch movies in English.

Playing games, reading books or just watching movies in English is the perfect way to promote English repetition during the Christmas holidays. Here are our 5 favourite Christmas movies for children to learn English. Thanks to them, your children will repeat the knowledge gained during our online English classes and… maybe they will also learn some new English vocabulary. 

Why watch movies in English with children?

For the young learners, entertainment is a great opportunity and at the same time a proven way to learn English. There are studies that suggest, that watching movies help to learn language and new vocabulary and we also certainly agree with the statement that dialogues heard in specific film situations are natural.

By watching movies in English, children learn many words and expressions

Christmas is a time to relax and spend time with your family, but what about fun moments spent together? Have a film evening, during which you will watch an English-language film together. We are sure that you will love this form of spending time. But what to choose? This is where we can help. Here are 5 of our favourite titles with fun and interesting plots that are worth watching at Christmas.

Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer: The Movie. Classic Christmas Story

Do you know Rudolph? This adventure animated musical is about Santa’s reindeer. When Rudolf is born, it turns out that he has an unprecedented red nose that shines. The film talks about the interesting adventure of a small reindeer, who at first is not confident enough but finally fulfils a dream and leads Santa’s team. Upon his return, he is given the title of the hero who saved Christmas – by distributing gifts. 

Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer is a film that is full of interesting, English dialogues that children will understand but also beautiful songs that will capture the imagination and allow you to learn new vocabulary in English. During this session, you will certainly not be bored, and together with Rudolf, you will spend a wonderful evening together.

The Flight Before the Christmas, the animation full of emotions

Reindeer are the nicest creatures that we associate with Christmas. After all, they are special helpers of Santa Claus. They have a lot of work to do in December. We are sure that together you and your child will love the story of the little reindeer Niko. It’s a movie about Santa and his little helpers, who overcome difficulties to make Christmas successful and magical for everyone.

Here, your little one will not only hear natural English dialogues that children will understand but will see how Niko finds strength and courage, despite his small size, and overcomes his fears. This beautiful animation will allow you to visit the North Pole (at least for a while). Vocabulary, plot and attractive film animations, certainly make it one of the best animated Christmas movies.

Shrek The Halls – perfect short comedy

“This is the part when you run away” of course that’s Shrek’s opinion, not ours. This is probably one of the most popular issues of this green ogre. But stay with us until the end of the article, and we will also give you other suggestions, from which you will choose something suitable for yourself and your children for a Christmas movie night.

You may know about this proposal from our social media. At the beginning of December, we recommended it because it’s full of funny dialogue and English vocabulary. This time, Shrek and his family will spend their first Christmas in the swamp. The problem is, the ogres don’t celebrate anything, and he doesn’t know how to celebrate. Therefore, he buys a textbook in which there are tips and explanations: on how to prepare for a holiday. And do you already know what Christmas looks like for Shrek, Fiona, their little ones and their friends? See for yourself.

The search of Santa Paws – a film about true friendship

If our previous proposals were animations, this time we present you with a movie that even the youngest will love. Santa Claus also needs help this time. During a Christmas trip to New York, he suddenly loses his memory. Who comes to help him? His most faithful friends, elves and … children.

This is an extraordinary film in that children will be interested in dialogues with talking dogs, headed by Santa Paw (the main dog character). This a touching love story. History is full of fun and adventure, but also laughter. It will delight not only the youngest but the whole family.

Home Alone, the ultimate Christmas comedy

Full of humour, resourcefulness, excitement… The story of the McCallister family, who decide to go to Paris for a trip at Christmas. However, in their haste, they forget about Kevin and almost miss their flight. Burglars are interested in the McCallister house, where Kevin is alone and preparing for Christmas. How will an eight-year-old boy cope with the burglars? 

An interesting, funny story about how a young man on Christmas Day confronts two burglars. During this movie, you will have lots of fun and laughter. Although this film was made in 1990, it never gets boring, and always provides plenty of entertainment. And your kids will learn a lot of new English vocabulary.

These are just some of our Christmas recommendations. We tried to combine modern productions with classics, especially for you. We know that December’s proposals are much more than these 5 titles. One of the best ways to learn a language is to watch movies in English, from an early age. Then both girls and boys are more interested in language. And the holidays are a great opportunity to watch an interesting movie together, so why not combine education with entertainment? These videos presented on the Meridian School of English blog show everyday situations and language solutions that can be freely used during our online English classes. In this way, we can help children learn English while having fun.

Which movie will you be watching during the Christmas break? Let us know in the comments. Do you have any favourite movies that you can’t do without for Christmas? We will be happy to read your suggestions and maybe see them for ourselves at Christmas. And if you have any questions, write to us at hello@meridianenglish.com and we will be happy to help you.

5 tips to get the most out of your children’s online English classes

5 tips to get the most out of your children’s online English classes

Author: Anna Steindel

Date: 14/12/2022

Author: Anna Steindel

Date: 14/12/2022

Learning and memory processes are influenced by class behaviour. At Meridian English, we want the classroom to be a healthy and productive learning environment. We want every child in our group to feel good and happy to come to class.  

That’s why it’s so important to engage your children in the classroom, to learn in a quiet surrounding, and monitoring their behaviour is crucial. Prepare your toddler for online English classes by reading about the best recommendations so that all students can enjoy a satisfactory and effective online English class. 

How to behave during online classes

On the internet, there is a so-called netiquette or internet label. What is it? It’s just appropriate behavior and good manners in our online classroom. Use the right language and let us be kind and patient to our classmates or teachers. After all, other students take part in Meridian English courses, which is why we care so much about common respect for ourselves. Respect breeds respect.  

Respect other opinions and participation times

English classes in groups are the best option for learning language – we already mentioned it there therefore, at Meridian English, students learn in groups of up to 6 people, where they can communicate more easily. That is why it is so important for us that our students treat each other with respect and kindness and do not interrupt each other when speaking.  

Appropriate clothing for online English classes

Importantly, they also do not require you to dress in special uniforms. We just want comfort to accompany them during classes, which will allow effective participation and focus during learning.  

Comfort during lessons makes learning more effective

It is important only that your child’s clothes were comfortable and not restricted to their movements. Remember that it is not pyjamas, which although comfortable, is not appropriate clothing for class time. You can dress your child in pants and a blouse, sweater or T-shirt. You know best what will be good for your child. At Meridian School of English, we take safeguarding very seriously, so it is important that our students are dress appropriately for class.

Find the proper place for online English classes

We want your child to fully focus on the lessons and acquire new knowledge. A quiet and peaceful room will facilitate the work not only for your child but also for their peers or teachers from Meridian School of English. Have you had a chance to read about them? You can do it here. Provide a quiet and comfortable place for example, at the desk or at the table. 

Avoid distractions or toys around your child during lessons

In addition to a peaceful environment, we want your child comfort to have at hand everything that they may need during the course. We suggest that may be useful: a notebook, pen and pencils – for younger for drawing and for making extra notes for the older ones. All that may be needed during our lessons. At Meridian English, the materials we use are online and interactive and they come from Oxford University Press.  

Put technology at the service of your children's English classes

Make sure that everything which might be needed during the lesson, is available. We have already mentioned school supplies. It’s time to introduce you to our technological requirements. A stable internet connection, headphones, microphone, computer or iPad – this is all you need to be able to take a Meridian English course.

Stable internet connection and computer or iPad – that's all you need during our English course

Enable Microsoft Teams and just make sure that the hardware works properly and the internet connection is stable during a video call. Just check before the lesson that everything works properly. Learning English has never been so easy. Have you seen the only requirements your child needs for attending our classes? Take a look at our social media

What if the behavior is inappropriate

It’s important to listen patiently to your peers during the classes. At Meridian English, we want all children to be able to take advantage enjoy and learn in our online English classes. For this reason, when inappropriate behaviors happen, for example too noisy background, the teachers will ask the students to leave the classes until they solve those issue. 

We want all children to be able to take advantage, enjoy and learn in our online English classes

We want your child to make the most of our online English classes, which is why we encourage all students to be in a quiet place and with everything they need for class development without interruptions. Thus, all children in the class will be able to learn English quickly and effectively, while having fun. We know that if everyone follows the class rules, your child will look forward to the next session to continue learning English with us.  

The right learning environment and preparation for classes affects children’s effective learning of a foreign language. If you want to know the rules that students must follow in our classes so that your child can learn effectively, we recommend you take a look at our pictorial code of conduct. Do you still have any questions? Feel free to contact us at: hello@meridianenglish.com. We will be happy to answer your questions.  

How to motivate children to learn English

How to motivate children to learn English

Author: Anna Steindel

Date: 07/12/2022

Author: Anna Steindel

Date: 07/12/2022

Motivation is the most important factor that affects the effective learning of English, especially for children. That is why it is so important that teaching methods are attractive. When we properly encourage and motivate a child, they will get real pleasure from learning a new language. 

How can we motivate children to learn? Check out our tips, read our article and get inspired by Meridian School of English.

What motivates children to learn a language?

First of all, discuss topics in which children are interested. During classes at Meridian English, our teachers use materials from Oxford University Press. These materials are connected to various topics that interest and attract the attention of children. Through an interesting topic, children acquire a good attitude that makes them willing to make more effort and continue learning. Internal motivation is key, besides it is the most effective form of motivation.

When learning is interesting and fun, motivation increases

Like all of us, children want to be good at what they do, but they also want to be appreciated and praised. Praise, encouragement or kind words will motivate children to learn. It is worth telling children that we are proud of them so that they have a sense of success, which is progress in learning English. As a result, their motivation will be greater, their learning more effective, and their self-confidence will increase.  

How can parents influence their child’s motivation?

As a parent, you can instill in your children a passion for learning English. How do we do that? Let’s show them a pleasant way, such as reading bedtime stories or books in English, if you have no idea how to start, then here are our book suggestions.   

Another interesting way will be watching movies and cartoons in English – have you seen our recommendation? And if your child can already read, then it’s a great idea to sing songs in English – turn on the song, display the lyrics to it and have fun together to the rhythm of popular English songs. If your child cannot read yet – then do not worry, nothing is lost. Include a song such as The wheels on the bus and we are sure that the little ones will be delighted.    

If you are passionate about learning English, so is your child

Even if you don’t speak English, nothing is stopping your children from learning the language. Currently, many opportunities make it easier and help children learn a foreign language.  Our online English classes are conducted under the watchful eye of experienced teachers. They are British experts, who will lead your child to succeed in learning a new language.  Just find an offer tailored to the needs of the child. Check out our offer of online English courses for children.

Use online materials and create a digital experience

Children are happy to use modern technologies, which greatly contributes to their development. Using the internet  allows them to learn different skills and develops cognitive and social spheres. We are talking here, not only about online games, but also about various methods of distance learning.

Technology improves language skills

The use of modern technologies not only affects children’s development but also deepens their self-confidence and strengthens motivation. And all this makes children want further success and new achievements. Together with Meridian English, your child will improve not only their English but of course their technological skills. 

Activities to make your child enjoy learning English

Children like to have fun while learning, so why not combine learning with games and play? Games are the best way for children to learn English because they stimulate their imagination. The appropriate game makes sense and allows students to practice all vocabulary, grammar and communication skills.

Learning is a piece of cake when students are motivated

Are you wondering which games will be appropriate? It all depends on the level of advancement of the child. Our experience says that children like to play “Simon says…”. If your child is just learning colours, use colours, if something else – just adjust the level of difficulty to the age. There are many possibilities, we have written about them as well here.

How your children will enjoy learning English with us?

The answer to this question is very simple. They will have fun during our classes. How do we know that? Firstly, our teachers are well-educated – they are Cambridge University or Trinity College London qualified. In addition, they are very creative and combine different methods during their lessons. And secondly, we know this thanks to the opinions of the parents of our students, which you can see on our site. Here is one of them:

My children attended an online course with Meridian English. They were always looking forward to their English classes and enjoying each session. The most important outcome for me – now they take the initiative of learning English, I don't have to push them. (Tiantian He, China)

In addition, during the online classes at the Meridian School of English, children are combined into internationality groups, up to 6 people – read more about our methodology. Despite this, our teachers focus on the individual needs of each boy and girl. Studying with peers of other nationalities contributes to a pleasant atmosphere and motivates them even more.

A good English course will motivate your children to learn the language accordingly. It will also use a variety of methods to help train children’s new-found language skills.  If you want your child to enjoy learning a foreign language – you are well placed. Do you have more questions? Write to us at hello@meridianenglish.com.  

Group classes, are the best option for learning English for child

Group classes for children are the best option for learning English

Author: Anna Steindel

Date: 13/09/2022

Author: Anna Steindel

Date: 13/09/2022

When it comes to learning a new language such as English, many parents wonder which option is better: group or individual English classes. While it is true that each person has specific characteristics and different needs, Meridian School of English with more than 40 years of experience working with international students makes it clear: that group classes are the most appropriate for children to learn English

If you have any doubts about why group classes are better for your children to learn English, we invite you to continue reading this article and we are sure that by the end of it will also be clear.

Interaction is the key to learning English

In other articles on our blog, we will mention about the importance of repetition. In this sense, group classes are extremely useful, especially when it comes to children. Practising with other people our age helps us to remember words and phrases and allows us to perform a wide variety of exercises: conversation, grammar and vocabulary. We all like to interact more with our contemporaries and the same is true for children. 

Interacting with other children, as it is in our online English classes, will help your children learn English more quickly and effectively.

The teachers at Meridian School of English apply in their classes a methodology based on interaction among the children. During our online English classes, all attendees participate and interact with each other throughout the 30 minutes of each session.

We can also learn from the doubts of our colleagues

As we have just said, Meridian’s online English classes engage children to participate in classes. This means that students spend a good part of lessons on the talking session or listening to what their peers are saying. This makes it very common to learn by listening to others since all the students have a very similar level. By developing the classes in small groups, participation, listening and the resolution of doubts, both their own and those of the rest of the class, are facilitated.

If children see that their peers have the same doubts and are at similar levels as them, it will make them feel better and learn more in their English classes.

Being surrounded by students at similar levels avoids the fear and embarrassment that comes with learning to speak English in public. When children see that they are not the only ones who mispronounce a word or don’t know the meaning of a term, they feel more integrated and it makes them easier to learn English.

Adaptation and personalized attention

Although we are talking about group classes, we must remember one of the keys of the methodology applied by the Meridian School of English: personalized attention. All of our teachers attend to each student individually, focusing on the aspects that each child needs to improve in order to learn English.

The individualized attention and follow-up of the teachers is a standard in Meridian English classes for children.

If this was one of your concerns as a parent, you can rest easy. The teachers who are part of our team are experts in working with children and spend a lot of time getting to know the needs of each individual child. Combining this individualized attention with the benefits of group classes is one of the keys to the success of our method.

English classes are more relaxing and more bearable

Another of the main advantages of Meridian English’s online classes for children is the environment in which they are taught. English classes where more children are involved give us more advantages. Meeting other people from different countries and cultures makes us learn in a more relaxing and less pressured way.

Group classes are always more fun, active and participation than individual classes and this is key for children to learn English.

One of the phrases most often used to explain our methodology is that learning can also be fun. Meridian English’s online English classes for children are in small groups of up to 6 students of different nationalities, this favours the development of activities in pairs or groups, conversations, debates, role-plays or team games.

At Meridian School of English we have it clear. Group classes are the best way for your children to learn English in a fast, fun and effective way. You can read more about our methodology by clicking here. And if you want more information about our online English courses for children, do not hesitate to contact us at hello@meridianenglish.com, our pleasure to help you. 

How you can help your children to learn English – Meridian Tips

How you can help your children to learn English – Meridian tips

Author: Anna Steindel

Date: 19/10/2022

Author: Anna Steindel

Date: 19/10/2022

First of all, we understand the importance of learning at the early stages, as we already explored with you here. At Meridian School of English, we are focused on effective learning and the educational development of your child. During our online English lessons, we try to develop your children’s skills: grammatical, communicative or related to the appropriate pronunciation of words. We realise that learning a foreign language only in school is not as effective as it should be. Why?

The best effects on children are received when students engage in regular lessons. Doing exercises, talking with colleagues in a group only in English or solving language puzzles together are some of the best ways to have an interesting learning experience. If we give our children the opportunity to practice outside the classroom, it will be easier and faster for them to absorb and retain what they have learned. If you want to know some of our suggestions for adapting material with children, stay with us until the end of the article.

Single words in everyday life

The most important thing is the adaptation of the method to the age and language level of your child. With the youngest children, fun works best with the interweaving of English words for everyday conversations. It is worth starting by using one word that your child learned during our online English course. How do we do that? The most important thing is to clearly define what the word is and use it instead in your native language.

More frequent use of new words means more language skills

This fun helps the memorization process in children and teaches them to reflexively use concepts in English. This will make children more likely to communicate in a foreign language. In addition, this fun enriches their vocabulary that can improve their way of thinking. Thoughts affect words, and words affect thoughts. Therefore, it is worth working on vocabulary from an early age, to broaden toddlers’ perception of the world.

Exercise: what am I thinking about

For children a little older and more advanced linguistically, we recommend the exercise “what am I thinking about”, which is perfect for travelling and will be a great addition to our course, but also classes at school. What is this exercise? At the beginning of the game we give the slogan “what am I thinking about”, and then we describe this object, activity or place. We start with the simplest, that is, for example, to describe the colour, or what it is used for or where we can meet “this something”.

Children learn and memorize material faster

Children can develop skills such as fluency in speaking during our 30-minute English lessons – read about our methodology here. However, it is important to repeat the exercise regularly. Regularity helps to develop good habits. It is worth showing the youngest that regular learning brings benefits, such as smaller parts of the material to assimilate in a given time. Let’s show the kids that learning can be enjoyable.

English conversations

If the child can already build a few sentences in a foreign language then you can try to talk in English, even the simplest, like welcome and introduction. It is worth trying such short conversations in English with them so that they will gladly take the next steps in communicating with their peers. Thanks to this, your child gains confidence in speaking but also practices what they’ve learned so far.

Self-confidence in science is important at every stage

At Meridian School of English, we want children to overcome the language barrier and get used to the language. Therefore, in our school in one group, there are up to 6 classmates from different nationalities but with the same level of English. To ensure adequate education of children and ease of communication during class. How do children communicate with their peers in class? Only through English, do mix-international groups allow achieve self-confidence quickly and easily in speaking.

Education is the key to success. Combining education with fun and daily activity gives a guarantee of satisfaction with learning a foreign language. English conversations, exercise like “what am I thinking about” or weaving individual words into everyday life are the perfect complement to our online English course for children.

These are our suggestions for exercises for the youngest, which will allow you to easily and pleasantly assimilate the knowledge gained during our online English lessons. This will be suitable for children 5-15 years. Would you like more information about our English course for children? Write to us at hello@meridianenglish.com. We’ll be happy to help you.

Read more on the topic of     EDUCATION     ENGLISH LANGUAGE

TOP 5 books to learn English with children from 6 to 9 years old

TOP 5 books to learn English with children from 6 to 9 years old

Author: Anna Steindel

Date: 26/10/2022

Author: Anna Steindel

Date: 26/10/2022

Our goal is to teach your children English. In addition, we want them to have fun and have a good time while doing it. One of the things that most engages children between 6 and 9 years old is books. 

Discovering new characters, imagining distant places, coming up with fantastic plans… All this happens in children’s minds while reading, and it can happen while your children are learning English too. You just need to know how to choose the right books. 

In this article on the Meridian School of English blog, we will present our TOP 5 English language books for children from 6 to 9 years old. We have prepared a list of magical stories, funny situations, charismatic characters and exciting experiences in books that your children won’t want to put down. All the while their language skills will be improving, building on what they have learned in our online English classes for kids

Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls

Surely, the perfect book for girls! You have already seen it on our social media channels. It’s true, we love the work of Elena Favilli and Francesca Cavallo. 

This fantastic book brings together a hundred stories of extraordinary women from around the world, from musical artists like Beyoncé or Madonna to great writers like J. K. Rowling. All the stories are presented with the designs of the most famous illustrators in the world, creating incredible work. 

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Scientists, astronauts, weightlifters, judges, chefs, and many more characters will help your children to learn English with this book

Each short story is narrated using simple language that makes it easy for kids to learn vocabulary and read at the same time in English. You can check out the book on Amazon by clicking here. 

Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland

A classic of children’s literature illustrated by Robert Sabuda. Children will have fun following the story easily and learning English.  

Alice in Wonderland is one of the most popular children’s books. Children will be impressed by its design and tactile resources. Six-year-olds will enjoy their first reading experience in English. 

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With 7 spreads and special effects made on paper, this book is one of the most highly recommended options for children to learn English by reading. We leave you the link to Amazon here so you can see it for yourself.  

Dear Greenpeace

This is another book you’ve probably seen. Dear Greenpeace is a beautiful novel, written by Simon James, in which Emily exchanges letters with Greenpeace, telling them about a whale trapped in a pond. 

This book talks about the importance of taking care of the environment and combines simple and clear language with an exciting story. This makes it ideal for children aged around 7 years to improve their English skills and learn new vocabulary in an entertaining way. 

Dear Greenpeace is an ideal book for children between 7 and 8 years old who have already started their adventure with the English language

Here, we’re sharing the link to see Dear Greenpeace on Amazon so you find out the details of this fantastic story. Together with your children, you will spend a magical time reading it. We assure you that they will love it and it will reinforce their knowledge of English 

In addition, it is one of the most highly recommended books to learn English by the  Meridian School of English teachers. 

The Gruffalo

This book is sometimes used in some schools to introduce boys and girls to reading in English. If your kids haven’t encountered it at school, you should try it. The Gruffalo tells the story of a mouse who is able to get the better of his predators with his ingenuity. 

The combination of Julia Donaldson’s poetic writing and Axel Scheffer’s illustrations, make up a fantastic book which will prime your children to read books in English. You can have a look at the video below to see a narrated version: 

Critics of children's literature consider The Gruffalo one of the best books for learning English for children of different ages

We also told you about The Gruffalo in one of our publications on Instagram, in our post about International Children’s Book Day. You can find out more about this story and buy it using this Amazon link. 

Emotionary. Say what you feel

We have left this one for the end of our TOP 5. That book is not only useful for learning English the illustrated dictionary of emotions is also a fantastic tool for all parents when teaching children to express emotions. In addition, it also helps your children to learn English by reading. 

This work by Cristina Núñez Pereira and Rafael R. Valcárcel will help children to recognize their emotions and talk about their feelings in a simple way. In this way, they will build their emotional literacy as well as their English skills. 

This "Emotionary" will teach your children to express their emotions through wonderful illustrations and simple texts while improving their English

If you want to know more about the Emotionary, we leave you the Amazon link with some information. This and the rest of the books presented in this article are perfect as a complement to our online English classes for kids. 

That‘s our TOP 5 recommended books to learn English for children between 6 and 9 years old. If you think we have forgotten any, you can write to us in the comments! Or if you’ve already read some, and would like to share your experience with us, we’d love to hear about it in the comments too. If you are interested in receiving information about our online English classes you can write to us at hello@meridianenglish.com. We will be glad to help you and solve all your doubts.

5 tips to help children with online learning

5 tips to help children with online learning

Author: Anna Steindel

Date: 2/11/2022

Author: Anna Steindel

Date: 02/11/2022

The internet is a powerful tool that has recently been used primarily for work and learning. It contains much valuable knowledge but also some dangers. Comfort and security are the most important things for us in our online classes.

Because of the unique nature of the Meridian School of English, our students are participating in virtual learning. We want time spent in online classes to be productive and useful for children. That is why we want to give you our 5 tips to help your kids learn English online.

Help to catch up on technological aspects

Understanding the definition of e-learning is crucial. One of these definitions is “eLearning is using computer technology for distance education”. In order for learning to be effective, we need to help children learn technology. Let’s show them that online lessons can also attract attention and interest. What will be useful? Getting interesting content for them.

Attract attention through computer technology

In our online classes, children need to focus on their attention for only 30 minutes. What positively affects effectively participating in the lesson at all times. To attract their attention, we use various modern technology-based methods – click here to read about more. Interactive materials from Oxford University Press – help your kids know and learn new technologies at the same time.

Configure parental control systems

As we have already mentioned, the internet can also be a source of danger. Therefore, it is so important to prevent and talk with your children about how should use it properly. Fortunately, the Internet shows the range of solutions you can take to make your kids feel more secure in cyberspace.

The most important aspect is the prevention

Make sure that all programs are up to date. Run updates to decrease potential online risks and help them make safer choices. You can also install parental controls, which allow you to filter websites, block apps or games and regulate your child’s purchases online. And one more: an equally good way to warn children about online dangers is to talk with them about cyberbullying. It is key to know appropriate and inappropriate interactions with such behaviours.

Stay close but distant

Children want to be more independent of their parents. Give them a sense of freedom, but be close enough so they can ask for your help if they need you. In our online English classes, we try to help your children as we can, so, for the duration of the lesson, you can do your own household chores.  Show your children that it is worth asking for help. That way you will build trust together.

Be close enough to help them when they need that

However, it is worth them having a little freedom so that they can learn some of the techniques themselves. Remember to limit the time your children use technology. It is important that you take the time to do other exercises, such as a sport, so as to keep the balance between learning online and different activities.

Create a climate of trust in which they can participate

Any conversation with your child builds trust. When you talk to your baby about topics such as technology and cybercrime you know that they are prepared for different situations. They also know that they can talk and inform you about different behaviours of theirs, and of their peers.

At first: build the trust

If they notice worrying behaviour on the network, they will inform you immediately. Support of parents to children and vice versa is very important and builds bonds and trust. Children can feel safe when the parents react in the proper way. More trust means less worry, less stress and more peace of mind.

Be patient with your child's online classes

Even if you know that your children, during online classes make mistakes – be patient. Maybe they are a little disassociated – just be patient. Maybe they can’t find desk space or today they are extremely mobile. If it doesn’t happen too often, just be patient. Each of us can have a slightly less efficient or simply a worse day.

Patience is key to be successful in online classes

It is difficult to focus the attention of the youngest in the lesson. But at Meridian English, we have a solution. Our teachers, give their best to keep your little ones in focus and gain an interest in English lessons and the topics that are being discussed there. The materials used by the youngest, in combination with the passion of our teachers, give incredible effects. Well, have you had the opportunity to meet our teachers? Just click here, to get to know them.

As you see, online learning is a process that we all need to learn. Both children and adults. Together, we need to bring children into the world of technology and show them the benefits. We must also say that if the internet is misused, it will cause harm. Without prevention and trust, we will not be able to bring children into this world of technology.

At Meridian School of English, we keep children safe in cyberspace and effective learning for them. If you have any questions, just write to us at hello@meridianenglish.com. Together, we will make sure that children are safe online.