Course for international guest/part time students

Faculty

Faculty of Primary and Pre-school Education

Organization

TÓK Department of Foreign Language and Literature

Code

ERA06E

Title

English Children’s Literature 1

Usual semester

Spring

Published semester

2025/26/2

ECTS

4

Language

en

Learning outcomes

Students will acquire extensive knowledge of the short genres of English children's literature (children's poems, nursery rhymes, songs and games), as well as their creative application in foreign language development of 3–7-year-old learners. They understand the role of children's literature in early foreign language development, expand the scope of its concepts. Students will become familiar with the basic genres of English children's literature and their main characteristics, primarily traditional and contemporary English short genre children's literature (rhymes, songs, poems, and children's games). They will also learn about the criteria for selecting and applying the elements of children's literature appropriately.

Course content

Definitions in children’s literature, frameworks for interpreting ideas; overview of genres and themes in children’s literature. Traditional and contemporary children’s literature. The place and role of short genres (chants, rhymes, songs, games, tongue twisters) in the holistic development of children; types and main features of various genres. The role of songs, music, rhyme, rhythm, movement, dance, humour and game in the holistic development of young children. Selecting appropriate pieces from children’s literature for the age-group, and the relevant techniques for presenting them.

Assessment method

Practice mark (five-point evaluation)

Bibliography

Bland, J. (Ed.). (2015). Teaching English to Young Learners. Critical issues in language teaching with 3–12-year-olds. Bloomsbury. Dunn, O. (n.d.). Learning English Through Sharing Rhymes. British Council. https://learnenglishkids.britishcouncil.org/parents/helping-your-child/learning-english-through-sharing-rhymes Hahn, D. (2017). The Oxford Companion to Children’s Literature. Oxford University Press. Kovács, J. & Trentinné Benkő, É. (2011). A Task-based Reader on Methodology and Children’s Literature (5th edition). ELTE Eötvös Kiadó. http://www.eltereader.hu/media/2021/09/Task_based_Reader-E-reader.pdf Opie, I. & Opie, P. (1997). The Oxford Dictionary of Nursery Rhymes. Oxford University Press.

Recommended bibliography

Anderson, N. A. (2012). Elementary Children's Literature: Infancy through Age 13 (4th edition). Pearson Education. Conn Beall, P. & Hagen Nipp, S. (2011). Wee Sing Children's Songs and Fingerplays. Penguin Putnam Inc. Graham, C. (2006). Creating Chants and Songs. Oxford University Press. Hooper, C. (2004). The Usborne Nursery Rhyme Songbook with CD. Usborne Publishing. Mickenberg, J. & Vallone, J. (2012). The Oxford Handbook of Children’s Literature. Oxford University Press.

Programmes of the course