The EAL Toolkit
Strategies and
Resources for Teachers
Welcome to the EAL Toolkit!
If you were looking for the " ERLC Supporting English Language Learners" website, you are in the right place. We've just done a few updates and added many more resources to support you in your work with English as an Additional Language (EAL) students and their families.
If you are looking for a particular item from the old version of the website, you can find them under the Archived Pages tab.
What brings you to the EAL Toolkit?
Wondering where to start with programming for your Beginning Proficiency EAL students?
You can start by looking at the Planning for Language Development, Using Visuals and Vocabulary pages.
Trying to figure out how to navigate the intake and initial language proficiency assessment processes?
Check out the Intake and Initial English Language Proficiency Assessment pages.
Want to build more culturally responsive practices into your practice and building?
Take a look at the Welcoming EAL Students and Families pages and subpages, as well as the Culturally Responsive Practices and Translanguaging pages.
Looking for key things to consider for reading and writing?
Go to the Building Background Knowledge, Oral Language, Reading and Writing pages to find some routines to incorporate into your practice.
Need information about assessment?
Depending on the type of assessment you are looking for, you can find information about Benchmarking, Classroom Assessment, and Multi-tiered System of Supports on their respective pages.
Looking for greater understanding of the additional language acquisition process?
The Understanding Language Acquisition and Learn More! pages address just that.
Curious about possible technology resources that can help scaffold instruction?
Visit the Tech Tools page to find out ways to use Google, Microsoft and AI to scaffold instruction.
Something else?
Contact us to ask for help and we will do our best to help you find it.
This site is designed to provide support for Alberta K-12 teachers, District EAL Leads, Inclusive Education Coordinators, and Administrators from the moment of intake to programming for EAL students.
You will find a rich array of forms, guidelines, tools and routines to maximize EAL students' language development. Because of the amount of information connected to this website, some documents may need an extra moment to load.
The increasing diversity of languages spoken at home highlights the expanding number of linguistically and culturally diverse learners entering the classroom. These students bring a unique set of assets that are developed in their homes and communities, including moving across languages, working with others, and learning about themselves and the world. These students' diverse lingusitic, cultural, and experiential backgrounds contribute to a vibrant and welcoming school community.
Glossary of Acronyms
EAL - English as an Additional Language - The Field
EAL Learner - English as an Additional Language Learner - These students know one or more languages and are presently learning English.
ELP - English Language Proficiency - Student's language skill level
ELD - English Language Development
L1 - The first language of the learner - also called Mother tongue or Home language.
L2 - Second language of the learner - The new language a student is learning; L3 - third language; L4 - fourth language....
LFS - Limited formal schooling - These students have arrived with minimal prior schooling.
ML - Multilingual Learners - Students whose parent or guardian reports speaking one or more languages other than English at home. MLs may or may not qualify for English language support, depending on their level of English proficiency.
SIFE - Student with interrupted formal education (There are gaps in their schooling)
CLD - Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (A synonym for EAL students, but this term is broader; it recognizes that the needs of this demographic of students go beyond learning English and extend to acknowledging their linguistic and cultural assets)
You may notice the term 'ELL' (English Language Learner) used in some resources across the site. While this acronym is still used, to align with Alberta Education's new guidelines (2023), new resources created and added will use 'EAL' (English as an Additional Language).
2023 Multicultural Calendar.pdf2023 Multicultural Calendar
The Multicultural Calendar provides information about the diverse monthly observances. Page 31 of the pdf above provides a summary of religious holidays in 2023 to assist with planning school events.
For more information and resources, see the Electronic Version
Language of the Month
Celebrate a wide range of languages and cultural heritages while igniting an interest in diverse experiences and ideas.
Language of the Month Resources:
Omniglot - the online encyclopedia of writing systems and languages
Learn Languages - Great resource for alphabets, numbers, phrases and more in over 90 languages
Many thanks to the following districts who shared resources and collaborated to build this site so that all may benefit. Our goal for working together was so that all educators and EAL Leads across the province are better able to help EAL students feel welcome and supported.
Battle River School Division
Black Gold Regional Schools
Edmonton Catholic Schools
Edmonton Public Schools
Elk Island Catholic School Division
Evergreen Catholic Schools
Fort McMurray Public Schools
Grande Yellowhead Public School Division
Grasslands Public Schools
Greater St. Albert Catholic Schools
Northern Gateway Public Schools
Rocky View Schools
St. Albert Public School District
St. Paul Education Regional Division
St. Thomas Aquinas Roman Catholic Separate School Division
And proudly supported by the Alberta Regional Consortia