Who are Language Learners?
Nova Scotia is receiving growing numbers of newcomers each year. Newcomers are an important demographic, bringing rich and varied cultures and languages from around the world. English as an additional language (EAL) is the study of English by learners who already speak at least one other language or who come from a home in which another language is used.
Some EAL learners will be literate in their respective languages, while others may have had little or no formal education and may not be literate in any language. Therefore, each learner is an individual; some require intensive support for language learning, while others require far less. EAL programming and services has three major aims:
To identify the needs of learners who come from culturally diverse backgrounds and whose first language is not English so that they can participate successfully in the education process.
To provide learners who have little or no knowledge of the English language with equitable opportunities to achieve designated learning outcomes across the curriculum.
To build on the EAL student’s first language and culture and encourage a positive self-image.
EAL learners will initially need an assessment of their listening, speaking, reading and writing skills in English, along with their literacy skills in their home language.
The first steps to meet the needs of learners of English as an additional language (EAL) are to identify:
the level of fluency: listening, speaking, reading, and writing;
the academic profile;
the learner’s social, emotional and behavioural needs;
cultural considerations.
Some students with EAL support might need additional support and counselling, because their personal situation is making learning difficult. The team that supports them relies on winning practices to develop an effective program for them.
https://www.ednet.ns.ca/psp/equity-inclusive-education/culturally-responsive-pedagogy/languages
