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In previous articles we discussed the need for learners to obtain Basic Interpersonal Communication Skills (BICS). These skills need to be the initial focus of learning alongside curriculum content in the early days. Class teachers are required to make significant adjustments to their programme of learning which is not an easy task, especially for those teachers who are new to teaching foreign languages.
The EAL teacher has the important role of understanding the psychology of each individual, their attitude, their adaptation to their new surroundings and how they have managed their transition.
The EAL teacher can take the burden off the class teacher by supporting and encouraging parent participation and communication. The EAL teacher should be seen as an asset and an invaluable resource for the class teacher. The class teacher has larger classes and with the best will in the world it can be difficult to provide sufficient help for the EAL students.
Beginner students gain confidence in the small EAL groups and will participate actively in lessons whereas they may remain silent in class for fear of getting things wrong in front of their more fluent peers. They can practice basic and classroom vocabulary to help them get through the day. The more advanced students benefit from more individually tailored lessons to support their language development.
It is a myth that once students can speak and understand English that they no longer need support, as mentioned in a previous article, if a student is left to cope they may seem to be doing well for a while but after a year or two cracks in their academic writing will start to appear. Continued support with their writing assignments, their editing skills and vocabulary development once they are verbally fluent will help avoid these cracks.
It is important at all stages that the class teacher and the EAL teacher work together as a team to support each individual student.
Some things to discuss are:
Pre-teaching helps learners to enter a lesson feeling confident, independent and ready to shine! It can be used to promote curiosity before a lesson, expose learners to new, unfamiliar vocabulary or concepts and/or allow them to tackle tasks at their own pace before working in a larger group setting.
For some learners, including those with SEND, the thought of a writing lesson can be daunting and unappealing. However, by finding creative ways to engage and 'hook' your learners, they will be more likely to feel motivated and engaged.
Tip or Idea: Start your lessons in an unusual or exciting way! Set up a scene or have props that give clues to a character or event, play an engaging video or audio clip or perhaps transform your classroom into a courtroom for a debate...
Last week I saw a film called 'Shadow in Baghdad', it was a film that pulled my heart strings. I was brought up in Manchester, both my parents spoke Arabic at home, both were from Baghdad. What struck me the most after I watched the film was how much I missed hearing that particular dialect of Arabic, the familiarity and warmth of the Middle Eastern people, the sense of security that came with it as well as a sense of longing and regret for a disappearing culture.