English as an Additional Language
English as an Additional Language
Our school community is very diverse, as we serve children from a very wide range of cultural backgrounds, which is one of the things that make the school such an amazing place. There are many, many different languages spoken by families at Filton Avenue and we believe that speaking more than one language is a superpower!
We follow the Bell Foundation’s 5 principles for effective teaching of English as an Additional Language (EAL) learners:
- Multilingualism as an asset
- e.g. Pairing with first language buddies where possible, in the early stages, to support understanding and toallow opportunities to use their preferred language as a vehicle for thinking and learning.
- e.g. Using translation apps, in the early stages, such as Microsoft Translator (microsoft. com/en-us/translator/)to enable simultaneous speech translation
- e.g. Speaking to parents about the importance of developing and maintaining oracy in the home language.
- High Expectations with appropriate support
- e.g. Whole school oracy focus: Providing opportunities to listen and to speak in groups, including speaking inthe learner’s preferred language. Responding positively when the learner attempts to interact, recastinginaccurate use of language when relevant or appropriate.
- e.g. Providing visual support for lesson content, in the form of games, role-playing and activities, pictures,diagrams, Widgit
- Integrated focus on content and language
- e.g. Explicit teaching of key vocabulary and sentence stems in all subjects
- Effective and holistic pupil assessment
- e.g. All children with EAL have their language level assessed by their class teacher – using a 1,2,3 scale for levelof support needed
- e.g. Those children who need further support access Flash Academy at school and at home. The EAL leadassesses their language proficiency from A to E using the Bell’s framework so that they access the right level ofsupport on Flash Academy.
- Social Inclusion
- e.g. Allowing learners who share the same language to sit together and work using their preferred language(s)as well as English.
- e.g. Sitting learners with peers who will be supportive and encouraging and will also be able to provide goodmodels of reading and writing in English.
