Catering for fluent and native speakers in English primary classes

Fluent and native speakers soon lose their motivation for English if they always have to do the same tasks as their classmates or assist them. Most of them want to be challenged at their level as well. This is why the PH Zug is developing ideas and ready-made material with which teachers can cater for their needs.

You'll find here

• Information about the current research and development projects of the PH Zug about native speakers
• Initial questions you could clarify with an English native speaker
• Vocabulary work for fluent and native speakers
• Book recommendations 
• Tips for teachers 
• The PH Zug booklets for fluent and native speakers for all the units of Young World, produced by students of the PH Zug
• Articles on catering for native speakers
• Information about the English Mentorat of the Stadtschulen Zug
• Tips for parents

Rektoratsfondsprojekt 1 of PH Zug (Nov. 2021 - Okt. 2023)

In this project "Englisch-sprachige Kinder in den öffentlichen Primarschulen des Kantons Zug" , Dr. Nikolina Stanic of the IZB was exploring the situation of children with English as their first language in one particular 6th grade class in canton Zug. Besides these children, she lay her focus on children who were fluent at English, due to their frequent contact with English on social media, series and computer games. The English team of PH Zug later on gave them the name SoMeGas (Social Media Users, Gamers & Co.)

In parallel, Sylvia Nadig of the English department developped ideas and already some material with which the teachers can challenge fluent and native speakers in their English lessons.

BAK-Projekt (Nov. 2023 - Dez. 2026)

Thanks to the funding of the "Bundesamt für Kultur" (BAK) and the PH Zug, the English team can continue their work on the topic "Förderung von Kindern mit Herkunftssprache Englisch im Englischunterricht". In close collaboration with various classes and teachers, the team develops concepts and further materials to challenge these children in the 3rd and 4th grades, in particular in connection with the coursebook Young World. Children who are already fluent in English thanks to a special talent or due to their frequent contact with social media, TV series or computer games (the so-called SoMeGas) are also taken into account, but the main focus is on the English native speakers.

Vocabulary work

• The fluent and native speakers could each create a word search for some of their peers, based on the vocabulary list of the unit. This makes them focus on the spelling of these words which they should study as well.
  Handout "How do create a word search"
  Handout "Grid for creating a word search"

Book recommendations PH Zug

Books for Native Speakers and SoMeGas

Books for native speakers according to grade

Recommendations of Elizabeth Meeks, the librarian of the International School of Zug and Lucerne in Walterswil:

Favourite books native speakers 3rd grade
Favourite books native speakers 4th grade
Favourite books native speakers 5th and 6th grade

More books !

Further books recommended by Elizabeth Meeks, the librarian of ISZL Walterswil

If you like.....

Diary of a Wimpy Kid
Percy Jackson
The Hunger Games
Wonder
Fantasy Books
Adventure Books

Tips for teachers

• Tipps für den Unterricht mit Native Speakers (kantonale Fachgruppe, 2018)
• Open World: Integrating native speakers in the classroom: Ideas for teachers of Sekundarstufe I, Lynn Williams Leppich, advisor Sylvia Nadig, PH Zug, Klett

Articles

• A Fair Deal for All, Laura Loder-Büchel, PH Zurich, 2010.
• "I felt like I was forced to be the teacher sometimes!" Rebecca Smith & Info Kleiber, 2021
• "I'm the teacher!" - "And I'm the native speaker!" Exploring the Challenges that English Native Speakers Bring to the EFL Classroom, Sylvia Nadig, PH Zug, 2022.
  
  

The English Mentorat of the Stadtschulen Zug

The Stadtschulen Zug has been offering already for several years an English Mentorat for fluent and native speakers:

• website of the English Mentorat of the Stadtschulen Zug, including the brochure with the book reviews of 2020/21 to download
• article Ein Extra für Zuger Expat-Kinder
• report of PH Zug students about the pullout-programme English Mentorat of the Stadtschulen Zug

Tips for parents

STBRITISHED British Education Advisory Service & Tutoring
Sophie Taylour offers advisory and support to children looking to transition or return to the U.K. education system. A specialist in boarding, she works with students preparing for entrance exams, or simply working in tandem with their Swiss education. 

Booklets for fluent and native speakers PH Zug

Students of the PH Zug have produced booklets for fluent and native speakers. If you use them in your classes, please send us some feedback to sylvia.nadig@phzg.ch so that we can take this into account for future editions. Thank you!.

As part of the current BAK-project, these booklets are being revised and evaluated and will be published on this website for the school year 2026/7.

• Young World 1 Unit 1 Booklet
  Young World 1 Unit 2 Booklet
  Young World 1 Unit 3 Booklet
  Young World 1 Unit 4 Booklet
  Young World 1 Unit 4 Solutions
  Young World 1 Unit 5 Booklet
  Young World 1 Unit 5 Solutions
  Young World 1 Unit 6 Booklet
  Young World 1 Unit 6 Solutions
  
• Young World 2 Unit 1 Booklet
  Young World 2 Unit 2 Booklet
  Young World 2 Unit 3 Booklet
  Young World 2 Unit 4 Booklet
  Young World 2 Unit 5 Booklet
  
  
• Young World 3 Unit 1 Booklet
  Young World 3 Unit 2 Booklet
  Young World 3 Unit 3 Booklet
  Young World 3 Unit 4 Booklet
  Young World 3 Unit 4 Solutions
  Young World 3 Unit 5 Booklet
  Young World 3 Unit 5 Solutions
  
• Young World 4 Unit 1 Booklet
  Young World 4 Unit 2 Booklet
  Young World 4 Unit 3 Booklet
  Young World 4 Unit 3 Solutions
  Young World 4 Unit 4 Booklet
  Young World 4 Unit 4 Solutions
  Young World 4 Unit 5 Booklet
  Young World 4 Unit 5 Solutions