Start reading aloud to young children and they will pay attention to you! Let them sit in your lap or beside you and run your finger under the words as you read each word. Repeat the story frequently and they will say the words after they begin to speak.

I like to read a short Bible story book to my PreK Sunday School Class and leave the last word off and ask a child to fill in the missing word as I point to it. Tell them and have them say it after you if they don’t know it. They love it and I do too.

The incentive of attention is interest; the greater the interest, the greater the attention; the greater the interest, action and reaction; begin by paying attention; before long you have aroused interest; this interest will attract more attention, and this attention will produce more interest and so on. This practice will enable you to cultivate the power of attention.

Charles Haanel, The Master Key System, 18:32

For foreign language learners, write flash cards with conversation words such as what to say to buy gas at a station or how to talk to cashier at grocery store. If you act it out, bring in groceries to practice with if they are taking a class in English.

Give them the flash cards to practice with and perhaps take to the store with them. You have their attention! Our country needs more literate people! Volunteer to teach someone to read!