Better Together

Abstract

Introduction The purpose of this textbook is to provide six to seven-year-old Korean EFL learners in private English kindergartens with a practical and engaging resource. It aims to teach English through character education, focusing on enhancing both social skills and the four main language skills: reading, speaking, writing, and listening. This textbook is designed to meet the developmental and linguistic needs of young learners by combining English learning with character education which is social skills. At this age, children are not only building language skills but also learning how to interact with others and understand basic social values. By integrating these elements, the textbook supports holistic growth, making language learning both meaningful and enjoyable. Activities and content are carefully designed to align with the students’ level and curriculum, ensuring they can develop their English skills while practicing positive social behaviors in a supportive and engaging way. Purpose & Target learners The textbook is designed for six to seven-year-old Korean EFL young learners in private English kindergarten. Their level is Level2 Emerging and Level3 Developing according to ACTFL by regular curriculum in English kindergarten for half an hour every day in a class of 12 students. It creates textbook for English for Character Education with a focus on enhancing social skills and 4 English skills (reading, speaking, writing, listening). Methodology CLIL (Content and Language Integrated Learning) - to make learning meaningful by using English as a tool to teach both language and important life skills at the same time. CLT (Communicative Language Teaching) - meaningful communicative tasks based on social skill’s topic. Expected Outcome Character education in an EFL kindergarten setting is expected to nurture students’ personal, social, and linguistic development in an integrated way. Strength their social skills such as respect, kindness, honesty, and responsibility, the program aims to help young learners develop strong social skills alongside their English proficiency. Through engaging activities, students will practice positive behaviors such as cooperation, empathy, and effective communication. These activities encourage them to build good relationships with peers and teachers, fostering a respectful and supportive classroom environment. In terms of language learning, students will strengthen their grammar, pronunciation, and overall communication skills while engaging in meaningful interactions. They will gain confidence in expressing themselves in English through guided practice and collaborative tasks. Additionally, character education is designed to support the development of moral decision-making and virtues, helping students internalize values that contribute to their growth as responsible and thoughtful individuals. The goal is for students to develop their personalities and social skills while improving their ability to use English in practical and purposeful ways.