Primary English as an
Additional Language
(EAL) Support
Welcome to the 2015 Parents’ EAL Information
session for the British Primary Section.
Head of EAL – Karen M Rowe
EAL Coordinators Annie Bagley and Paul Harding
Information session structure
About the EAL
department
What is EAL?
How do we support
EAL?
Our aim
Independent learning
Who we are
Katerina Klimes
Reception
Lucille Gerber
Reception
Annie Bagley
Year 1 (Infant Coordinator)
Sarah Beddoes
Year 1
Jennifer Chou
Year 2
Jo Bennett
Year 2
Corne Coetzee
Year 3
Lize Dawes
Year 3
Paul Harding
Year 4 (Junior Coordinator)
Jaya Hiranandani
Year 4
Michael Emeny
Year 5
Eveline Leane
Year 6
Gareth Kennedy
Boosters
What is EAL?
EFL versus EAL
English as a Foreign Language students learn English as a subject, generally for
business and/or pleasure purposes.
As an English as an Additional Language
student, your child is already competent
in a first language and
is becoming a bilingual learner.
Your child needs to function in
two languages in daily life.
Stages of language acquisition:
• pre-production – the silent period
• early production – one & two word phrases
• speech emergence – simple phrases and
sentences
• intermediate fluency – more complex sentences
• advanced fluency – near-native level
How we support EAL:
assessing children
English knowledge and skills are assessed in four key areas:
•Oral skills (speaking and listening)
•Vocabulary
•Reading
•Writing
Assessments combine class teacher & specialist teacher appraisals,
alongside more detailed language evaluation by the EAL support
staff.
Your child is learning within an English
medium setting and curriculum
- our aim is to give the support needed for his/her
success, parallel to that of native English speakers.
How we support EAL:
tailored programmes
Once a child is identified as an EAL learner, we tailor a
programme of support for his/her particular needs.
Elements of this programme may include:
- Co-teaching
- In-class support
- Withdrawal within or from the classroom
New learners receive intensive
‘booster’ sessions designed to help
integration into the classroom.
Foundations for learning
We recognise that your children have diverse experiences &
backgrounds and encourage them to make links between
these home experiences and their school learning.
We provide practical activities because children learn best from
hands on experiences.
Your child feels secure and esteemed in a supportive environment.
Your child is encouraged and not continually corrected.
Mistakes are part of the process of learning.
Teaching for learning
Together we plan, deliver and monitor your child’s learning.
We ensure your child receives:
• language which is appropriate to his/her level of development
• language which is meaningful
• language based on concrete experiences
• learning supported by visual & contextual practice
Your child will engage best when the focus is on
meaning and purpose rather than spelling and grammar!
Partnerships for learning
We recognise the importance of you & your family in
helping your child to learn successfully.
Because of this, we:
– Inform you of what we are doing in school
– Advise you on how you can help your child learn
– Regularly update you on your child’s progress
Your role:
Continue to develop your child’s first language.
Talk & read with your child, developing concept understanding.
Support with homework - discuss using both languages.
Aiding progress:
Encourage your child to:
• be attentive in class and listen
carefully
• ask questions
• socialise with English speakers
Give them:
• Help and support at home
• Sufficient rest and down-time
Unique factors
• age
• motivation
• personality
• learning aptitude
• level of English language at entrance
• language family and strength of first language
• experiences
How long will a child need EAL support?
It is important for everyone to understand that speaking
English fluently in social situations does not mean that
English learning has finished.
It takes a number of years to catch up fully with the
academic language needed for success in school.
At TES we are committed to ensure that
all children achieve their learning potential.
Additional language learning
advantages:
Research says bilingual learners:
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Become smarter
Filter information better
Have better memories
Are more socially adept and culturally aware
Have improved decision-making skills
Find it easier to learn other languages
Are highly valued in the job market
Are less prone to developing Alzheimer's Disease in old age!
Just for fun!
Which are the most spoken languages in the world?
But …
the British Council estimates over one billion people are
learning English right now!