APPInep Winter issue 2019 APPInep e-Newsletter 13 final | Page 10

Storytelling corner Playing Ever After - learning through stories and play (cont.) were explored using a diverse set of cross become in the target language. After repeated curricular activities and resources, all accessible adult-mediated exposure to the story in many on Dropbox and different forms and a range of cross-curricular described in our games and activities, children have opportunities blog and on to play freely in this area and use English our Facebook spontaneously. According to Sandie Mourão, once the English lesson is over, children will thus be page. able to relive their experience, experimenting, making mistakes, exhibiting choice and deciding for English Learning Area and play themselves what they want to In order to encourage language practice through do play, we set up an English Learning Area. Sandie English resources. with the Mourão describes English Learning Areas as structured learning areas in the classroom that provide access to E n g l i s h outside of the At this stage of the project, with over another year to go, we have observed the following outcomes:  A strong affective connection to the story and monster characters.  High levels of motivation to participate in specific English lessons themselves, but also help teacher-led to integrate English into the children’s day. In our associated with the story. case the area is outside the classroom, but it is usually one of the areas in a kindergarten classroom, a corner of a primary classroom, or even a box with resources. All our resources and materials (flashcards, puppets, picture books, card activities, games and  High levels of motivation to communicate/ share with children in other countries.  Curiosity and motivation to play freely in the English Learning Area. games, etc.) are in the English Learning Area for students to play with freely and play practise their English. We hope that the more opportunities children are given to move from teacher-led activities to child- initiated play, the more confident they are likely to 10