TITLE:
The Role of Puppets in Kindergarten Education in Cyprus
AUTHORS:
Çağda Kıvanç Çağanağa, Ayten Kalmış
KEYWORDS:
Puppets, Preschool Education, Young Learners (YLs), Kindergarten
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Access Library Journal,
Vol.2 No.7,
July
17,
2015
ABSTRACT: This qualitative research aims to investigate that if the puppets can be used as a teaching tool in kindergarten education and how it is effective for children to learn. The question that this research is trying to find out is who the pre-school language learners are. The data are gathered using two different kinds of research methods: observation and interview. It is a case study in which 20 kindergarten children are taught English with a puppet named Pepe and students are observed whether or not they learn the language. In addition, two kindergarten teachers are interviewed about the use of puppets in English language classrooms. The data show that puppets are engaging and motivating for young learners. They are effective tools, which can be used in English language classrooms. However the study is limited to the role of puppets in kindergarten education in English language classrooms. Further studies may focus on the role of puppets in kindergarten education in other fields such as science, art, and so on.