Pupils with English as an Additional Language (EAL)

For Vocabulary and other resources in a range of languages - Click here

Admission Protocol - Communication and Information

EAL pupil's need: Supportive ethos, admission procedures in place, Induction period, Supportive learning environment.

Teacher's need to know: Pupil profile including - country of origin, Languages spoken, Religion, Previous educational experience, Previous attainment - level of literacy and numeracy in first language.

Classroom strategies: 

1 Place pupil with able pupils for a good model of English
2 Provide visual resources to set a context (use lower key stage texts as a supplement)
3 Set objectives simply and clearly and link to context by visual materials or gesture
4 "Signpost" lessons by putting key terms on board and link to visual materials, throughout lessons 
5 Video or note taking etc will need clear, simple objectives. "look at the video and note the customs about new babies."
6 Provide simple English sentences linked to lesson context as learning objective e.g. the earth rotates on it's own axis.
7 Be aware of overuse of idiomatic language e.g.: It's on it's last legs - explain meaning.
8 Check pupil's understanding s/he may not ask for help. Ask "What does ... mean?"
9 Ask librarian for help providing illustrated texts for topics arising.
10 Encourage use of dictionary and note making in first language. also ask for extended written response in first language.
11 Give pupil spider diagrams/grids/charts/writing frames , to explain or support written work.
12 Mark content - knowledge, ideas etc in usual pen and mark some English errors in pencil.
13 Give occasional gentle oral feedback for spoken errors, ask for repetition of correct sentences.

This document suggests some strategies to help teachers provide access for pupils at different points of learning English.  It is important to support them to develop both their understanding and use of the English language and to enhance their learning in mathematics lessons.

Click here for the document

Click here for information about the ‘ASSESSMENT IN MATHEMATICS TOOLKIT TO SUPPORT PUPILS FOR WHOM ENGLISH IS AN ADDITIONAL LANGUAGE’  The toolkit is a suggested method of gauging whether pupils in the early stages of learning English will be able to access the mathematics in the planned teaching programme for the year group concerned.

It provides a useful starting point, which will enable teachers to:
·       identify strengths and gaps in pupils’ mathematics learning;
·       provide appropriate mathematics teaching to secure progress.  

Useful Websites for working with pupils with English as an Additional Language

www.multiverse.ac.uk
The Initial Teacher Training site with information and resources for students and educators on inclusive teaching. There is also information for teachers in mainly white schools.
www.eurydice.org
Look for Eurybase and you can find out about education in any of the European Union countries.
www.naldic.org.uk
Also contains a section for initial teacher training on working with EAL pupils.
www.slamnet.org
Find the METAT button and connect to Suffolk County Council’s own website for advice on minority ethnic pupils.
www.becta.org.uk/inclusion
Guide to finding resources on the Internet, links to community websites, learning and teaching community languages, community languages forum, information sheets translating common IT terms from English, using multimedia in minority language learning, multilingual word processing (fonts in different languages), translation engines.
www.gca.org.uk/newarrivals
Good for information about refugees and asylum seekers
www.interfaith.org.uk
Information about different faiths
Translation sites
www.google.com
Translation and finding web pages in first language, look for Language Tools on home page. For Polish you need to go to www.ectaco.co.uk
www.dgteaz.org.uk
Translated letters for schools in over thirty languages.
www.dfes.gov.uk/parents/home
Parents’ centre website, includes information on SEN in different languages and translated letters.
www.communicate-health.orq.uk
Multilingual appointment card that can be translated from English into Arabic, Bengali, Czech, Farsi, French, Gujarati, Hausa, Hindi, Kurdish, Lin gola, Lituanian, Polish, Portuguese, Punjabi, Pushtu, Romanian, Russian, Serbian, Sinhalese, Somali, Spanish, Swahili, Tamil, Tigrinian, Turkish, Turi, Ukrainian, Urdu and Yoroba.
Sites that help pupils learn English

www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/
For teenagers who know some English, this is an excellent site. Check out the postcard section and the grammar of the week. The home page has world news which can be read in several languages.

www.bqfl.org
Go to languages and then community languages to find EAL resources organised by key stage, eg acids and alkalis interactive task, survival guide for beginners, virtual house etc.

www.enchantedlearning.com
Bilingual dictionaries in Dutch, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Portuguese, Spanish and Swedish. Nursery rhymes and activities. Labelling work sheets for KS 2,3,4 — link with the ESL page.
Diverse craft activities for every season and many faiths/ cultures

www.britishcouncil.org/learnenqlish
A very comprehensive site that has stories, games, songs and activities for young children and a section headed ‘Teaching English” where you can find “Britlit”. This section has activities for intermediate level students (equates with level 5 national curriculum), there is very good material le.g. on poetry of Benjamin Zephaniah.

Sites for global knowledge

www.virtualbangladesh.com
Translation, information about Bengali

www.qlobalqateway. orci .uk
nables pupils to learn more about other countries and cultures and enables some students to maintain contact with their countries of origin.

www.worldinfozone.com
Cultural information from around the world, this is very useful to find out about a child’s cultural background when they first arrive.

Practical resources

www.mantralinqua.com
School Welcome Booklet available in 18 different languages — Arabic, Bengali, Chinese, English, French, Gujurati, Lithuanian, Polish, Portuguese, Punjabi, Russian, Somali, Spanish, Swahili, Tamil, Turkish, Urdu (Price in 2004 £35 + VAT)

www.proteatextware.org
An Australian educational resource company, specialising in EAL software —you can order a demonstration disc for” Issues in English”. This is an excellent resource for Y10/11 post beginners — has video clips and 600+ grammar exercises.