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Catering for the needs of the ESL student in your classroom. What is an ESL student?. ESL = ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE DEECD definition: comes from a language background other than English does not speak English as the main language at home
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What is an ESL student? ESL = ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE DEECD definition: • comes from a language background other than English • does not speak English as the main language at home • has been enrolled in an Australian school for less than five years
Where do I start? Gather information • Check enrolment details • Previous schooling • Talk to family/friends of same background • Talk to the ESL teacher
Make the ESL student comfortable • Take the student on a tour of the school • Teach a few “survival" words • Use the buddy system • Praise
What is the time frame for learning a second language? Children develop at their own rate • Factors • Age • Previous education • Home support • Motivation • ESL program
Prepare your classroom • Bilingual/picture dictionary • Signage • Discuss with the class potential problems and how they can help – may short circuit bullying. • Teach a few greetings
Ascertain level and needs • Conduct an informal interview • Arrange for a translator if necessary/possible • Assess comprehension • Refer to ESL companion to VELS
ESL Companion to VELS • Primary – 2 levels • Lower Primary (P-2) stage A1 or A2 • Upper Primary (3-6) stage B1, B2 or B3
What sub-level? • A or B? • 1, 2 or 3?
Make up of the ESL companion • Draw from the Learning Focus • Read standards in conjunction with Learning focus • Standards incorporate 3 dimensions : • Speaking and listening • Reading • Writing
Teaching towards Goals • Discuss with the ESL teacher • Use the ESL teacher as a resource • Refer to ESL VELS companion to what level child is, and what you should be aiming for
Linguistic needs • Think about the needs of the learner • Communication • Speaking and listening • Learning through ‘doing’ • Grammar and structure
Teaching Methods • Direct teaching towards outcomes • Use different methods • Be flexible
The ABCDEF approach • Awareness of students’ language situation • Being supportive of active participation in classroom talk • Concrete stimuli for promoting talk • Depth studies of written or multimedia texts • Encouraging confident language use through rehearsal • Focus on explicit language teaching
Assessment • Refer to VELS ESL companion to assess progression • Plot progression • Show parents • Discuss with ESL teacher
Use resources • The ESL handbook (Dept of Ed, Victoria) • ESL companion to VELS • Green Splashy Document (ESLATS) • Break it down, Build it up
In summary:An effective ESL teacher knows..... • how a second language is learnt • the teaching and learning conditions that best promote the learning of a second language • how to identify the language and literacy demands of classroom activities • the ESL teaching strategies they can use in their classrooms • the stages of ESL learning as described in the ESL Companion to the VELS • the particular learning needs of the full range of ESL learners.