Embedded Files
Below is a strategy page resource that can help support EAL learners. Click the top right corner to download a PDF version. You may like to print it in A3 format for legibility and ease of use.
EAL Strategies.pdfPhonology for Beginners
Phonology is the key to speaking and listening. It is important to show students how to make the different sounds. Do this during the ‘silent period’ (the period where EAL beginner students are typically 'silent' before they feel confident enough to speak).
Tips:
Speak clearly and precisely
Sit them at the front of the class
Let students study your face to see how sounds are made
Use rhymes and chants - helps students identify stress patterns in English
Here are some videos to help with this. You can also use the button underneath to access a range of phonics resourses for support.
Vocabulary Development
Once students master basic language they need to build up their vocabulary.
This is key to developing reading skills - which is essential for accessing school curriculum
Lexical density - how many words with meaning relative to grammar
Non-fiction texts are high in lexical density and context does not aid comprehension - also a lot of subject specific vocabulary
Below are some suggestions on how you can support vocabulary development.
Vocabulary Wheels and Grids have commonly used words and suggest alternatives. They are a useful resource for vocabulary development. The button above will take you to a folder with some examples. You can have groups of students create their own where English speakers support EAL learners with this.
Use a 'Word of the Week' activity to develop vocabulary. You can have students find the definition, synonyms, antonyms, use it in a sentence, make a drawing, translate it. The button above will take you to a folder of graphic organisers that can be used for this activity.
Corrective activities can be a useful way to teach vocabulary and grammar. For example give students the sentence: 'Goodbye! My banana is Joe!' and have students correct the mistakes.
Oral prediction - get students to predict what words may be in a text using visuals, headings etc.
Prediction (redaction) - cut out words in a text and have them predict what will go there
You can use this website Cloze Test to create texts with missing words.
Grammar
Word order will be different in different languages. It is important to teach this explicitly.
Below are some suggestions on how you can support grammar development.
Sentence building - give students a sentence building visual (see above) and then give them words with pictures that they can build sentences with. The button above will take you to a folder with sentence building resources.
Graphic organizers are a helpful tool to structure written work. The button above will take you to a folder of with graphic organizers.
Corrective activities - For example: She hid on top of the table. - do it with pronouns, prepositions etc.
Video clips with subtitles - helps with comprehension and word order
Dual Coding
We remember information better if we get the information using visual and verbal channels
Visuals are a very important part of helping students learn new vocabulary and improve comprehension.
Repeat yourself! - multiple listening opportunities gives students a chance to progressively understand what is being said
Label the classroom! - this can help with vocabulary acquisition
Dual coding can be linguistic!
Use dual language resources to allow students to show what they know. Eg. they may know a concept in their home language and can use a dual language vocabulary sheet to show their understanding.
The button below will take you to a section that Dual Language resources for different langauges.
Learner Layouts
It can be useful to place EAL learners in different seating arrangements to help promote their learning and understanding.
Shoulder partners (sitting next to each other) - similar level in English
Face partners (sitting facing each other) - different levels and can support each other
Whole table discussions - at the end and all can participate
Talk partners - great way to develop language - pair them at different stages
Think - pair - share - give processing time
Discussion in home language - allow this as it helps develop cognitive processes - limit to a few minutes
EAL Teaching Websites
There are some useful EAL Websites that contain resources to help with teaching EAL students. The button below takes you to a section that outlines these websites and how they can be used in the classroom.
EAL Resources Folder
The button below takes you to a folder full of resources to support EAL students.
The presentation below is a summary of the information presented on this page as well as the main EAL 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