Embedded Files
Many children in international schools speak languages other than English at home. This is why English is an Additional Language for them (EAL). Accessing the curriculum for these students can sometimes be challenging as they work to learn and master English but also access lesson content.
The EAL Experience
Speaking quickly and without gestures or visuals makes it harder for EAL students to understand. Click on the button for an example.
Some EAL learners have the added challenge of having to learn a new writing system.
Language Learning
There are two main areas of the brain involved with language learning.
Broca’s Area - area of brain responsible for language processing: movement of mouth, tongue, palate etc.
Different languages are stored in different sections
Wernicke’s Area - area of brain responsible for language comprehension
Very little separation of languages because language comprehension is metalinguistic. This means we can understand language in multiple ways
This is why maintaining home language is important!
Other Important Facts
Bilingualism - Bilingual children do not have spatial separation between languages in the brain. This allows them to switch between languages easily.
6 years + - If children start to learn langauges after 6 years, the brain will always separate languages in the brain.
6 - 13 years - This is the most dynamic period for language learning. There still a lot of brain plasticity which makes the learning of languages easier.
Older learners - The motor skills involved in forming words are more challenging (e.g getting your mouth to form the correct shape to pronounce certain sounds) which is why it can be harder to learn languages when you are older.
Language Immersion
Comprehension happens before processing.
This means that we can understand a lot more before we can use it - this is why language immersion works.
Language Acquisition
There are different stages in language learning.
Silent period- Language learners are ‘taking the language in’ but are not able to use it yet. This period varies between individuals.
BICS - Basic Interpersonal Communication Skills. This takes about 2 years to acquire and happens intrinsically for most. The initial stages of BICS is often termed 'survival language' which consists of the basic language needed to communicate with others and get needs met.
CALP - Cognitive Academic Language Proficiency. This takes about 5-7 years to acquire and requires instruction. This is the language that is used in thc classoom such as subject specific vocabulary.
In schools, explicit BICS instruction is required at school because CALP is used right away in the classroom.
Levels of Support
Beginners
Need explicit instruction of BICS stage
Benefit from immersion - should be in the classroom as much as possible
Intermediate
Continue to need support with the BICS stage
Need to be given support with general language and vocabulary before they go to subject specific language (CALP)
Advanced
Support is designed to consolidate and enhance vocabulary, grammatical knowledge and complex language devices
This is the progression of support for EAL learners. They initially require significant imput but this has to be balanced with independent learning opportunities that allow them to consolidate their language skills.
The presentation below is a summary of the information presented on this page as well as the support strategies and resources page. Click on the top right corner to download a PDF of the presentation.
Support for EAL Learners.pdfClick on the buttons below for more information:
Page updated
Google Sites
Report abuse