[roja123]

I agree with you completely that is is terrible to rush children into speaking the language. I have a couple of strategies to help try to make the new less language less scary for the students and hopefully get them talking sooner.

Some children respond better talking to a puppet or a soft toy, rather than to the teacher. This makes it more personal. For example if they each brought in a toy they could talk to it instead of to you or to the whole class. Also, if you use a puppet to talk to the children, then they can respond to it instead of to you. Lots of children seem to find this easier, especially if the puppet plays with them or shakes their hand or whatever.

The other thing is to practise speaking the words in different voices. So for example instead of just repeating new words in their normal voices, you can demonstrate the words in different ways for them to copy, e.g. whispering, singing, high-pitched, very slowly, etc.

Hope these ideas help!