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2nd March 2015
Recently we have been looking closely at the power of using online learning through the Learning Village by studying the assessment results of learners who were […]
28th February 2015
Feedback is the buzz-word and, as with most things, it is not being reinvented, but constantly readapted. In recent years, we see more formal national approach. […]
4th February 2015
Including a useful EAL Progress Review and links to different EAL assessment continua When teaching EAL, assessment procedures need to be in place in order to […]
30th December 2014
Including some ideas for EAL beginners Whilst reading a book on reclaiming childhood (‘Their name is today’ by Johann Christoph Arnold) the chapter on ‘learning differences […]
24th December 2014
Author: Coreen Sears Including 5 top tips to celebrating differences Last week I saw a film called ‘Shadow in Baghdad’, it was a film that […]
24th December 2014
The language show this year in Olympia made me even more aware of the gift of having more than one language. One of the stand’s motto […]
2nd October 2014
The start of a new school year can be a daunting experience for new EAL arrivals. Some may be devastated to leave their friends, schools and […]
27th June 2014
This language learning strategy provides a very powerful platform for rapid progress using a multi-sensory approach: 1. Teach the new language. Ideally, a popular phrase where […]
5th June 2014
New to English can be supported in many different ways. Here’s one school’s approach: Assessment All learning is based on assessment. Children arrive and sit a […]
5th June 2014
Everyone is talking about differentiation for EAL in whole class teaching, but how do we actually approach it consistently and effectively? At Across Cultures we have […]
22nd May 2014
Are your new arrivals now intermediate language learners? The last two Across Cultures books focused on the beginners language learning needs in vocabulary and grammar (presented […]
17th May 2014
A School Language Profile is an invaluable tool! In the previous article we looked at the thorny issue of EAL learners with specific learning differences (SpLD). […]
5th May 2014
What tools are there if you have a sixth sense that something is not quite right? At what point does a teacher start to question whether […]
21st April 2014
In schools where English is the language of instruction, we welcome new arrivals with limited English – and step by step, they become skilled in speaking […]
21st April 2014
Is it important for young English language learners to read dual language text? It can be helpful for learners to read texts in both languages. It […]
21st April 2014
The use of children’s home language is another extremely important element of learning a language. Cummins highlighted that: “bilingualism has positive effects on children’s linguistic and […]
30th March 2014
Have a look at these tips on culture change: //www.globalkidsoz.com.au/_things_to_discuss_about_another_country.php Also see an array of multicultural resources on this site as well as a few other […]
3rd March 2014
Teresa has worked at St John’s C of E for over 2 years. She differentiates for all ability levels but, up to now, she has never […]
24th February 2014
Helping our students to be better language learners How can the new to English language learners and their teachers work together to provide a successful language […]
23rd February 2014
Key Stage 2 Assessment and Reporting Arrangements 2014 states: “4.9.4 How children’s test and teacher assessment results are used in the performance tables All children who have […]
16th February 2014
Here’s a summary (the bare bones) of a procedure that gives you first steps to accomodating for new EAL arrivals. This is for those of you […]
16th February 2014
It’s hard to even start to highlight the challenges of teaching EAL students in such a short article but there are a few key areas to […]
12th February 2014
A few useful tips on supporting new arrivals, note the induction and the need for both withdrawal and in class learning. Video:
7th February 2014
EAL students are often placed in a situation in which the tools they need for building conceptual understanding of the world (their home language and home […]
2nd February 2014
Instantly translate printed words using an app! Check this: Word Lens
21st January 2014
I watched this clip recently and certain elements stood out: Collaborative planning which supported pre teaching EAL learners The use of mentors and a special room […]
13th January 2014
It is Friday morning; the Head teacher comes to tell you that on Monday morning you will have a new student arriving who does not speak […]
29th December 2013
Scenario: Imagine that you were told you were going to move to a new country (pick a country that has a different written script, such as China, […]
21st December 2013
Progression in Language Structures is a great document for identfying how content learning can be built on language structures. Language structures are presented in sentence starters […]
21st December 2013
This EAL Assessment booklet is produced by NASSEA (National Association of Support Services and Equality & Achievement) and provides a detailed scale which aligns to the National Curriculum: //nassea.org.uk/assessments/ An alternative […]
21st December 2013
We’d love to hear from you! Where are they from? What langauge do they speak? Do you feel prepared!? Have a look at these videos of new arrivals and how […]
21st December 2013
Supporting the learning of the new language is by no means the only aspect of helping a new arrival to feel ‘at home’ in their new […]
21st December 2013
As a Head of Early Years in an international school following the EYFS and IPC curriculums it has always been important to ensure that the teaching […]
20th December 2013
Coreen Sears gives us an insight into her thoughts… ‘The story of my life is who I am’ When Caroline asked me to write something about […]
14th December 2013
Coming in the New Year… a series of articles with free downloadable teaching tools and resources! They will be written and produced by Jessica Tweedie. Jessica […]
14th December 2013
If you have EAL new arrivals in your school with limited English, you need a scheme of work that supports them with language learning, alongside the […]
24th November 2013
//boingboing.net/2013/11/21/the-noun-project-interview-wi.html
23rd November 2013
//boingboing.net/2013/11/14/animated-history-of-the-englis.html Video:
23rd November 2013
//lifehacker.com/five-best-language-learning-tools-1448103513?utm_s…
17th March 2021
Author: Yzanne Mackay It’s now almost exactly a year since the UK education system went into lockdown. The ruling that schools must close to almost all […]
3rd March 2021
Author: Sarah Jones, EAL Coordinator, Lea Forest Academy In January 2021, we commenced another lockdown in the UK and put our recovery curriculum on hold. […]
3rd February 2021
Author: Catherine Brennan, Director, Better Bilingual CIC To mute or to unmute? To reply to one or everyone? To use gallery or speaker view? Like […]
25th January 2021
We’re delighted to announce that we’ve been shortlisted in the BETT Awards 2021 for our secondary learning resource – The Islands! The BETT Awards are an […]
4th January 2021
Author: Breda Matthews, EAL Specialist Teaching in a way that is responsive to the diversity in our classrooms has a huge impact on the learning […]
13th December 2020
Author: Miranda Howell, EAL Specialist For those of us who are EAL teachers in school, selecting our language learning outcomes is only one consideration in […]
8th November 2020
Author: Eli Briasco, EAL Specialist Think about the last lesson you taught to English language learners. I’m sure you did some form of planning beforehand. I […]
7th October 2020
Author: Breda Matthews, EAL Specialist Assessment in an EAL context takes many forms. It can be formal (e.g. tests and examinations), informal (e.g. teacher observations) […]
18th August 2020
Author: Isabelle Bridger, EAL Specialist As educators, we are naturally reflective creatures, habitually revisiting lessons in our minds to see if we could somehow improve. […]
24th July 2020
We’ve made it to the top again! The Learning Village secondary-level programme – The Islands – has been shortlisted in the Teach Secondary awards 2020. This […]
30th June 2020
Author: Caroline Scott, author and director Transitioning successfully between extended home and school learning has been the struggle of every affected school, across the globe, […]
4th June 2020
Author: Isabelle Bridger-Eames, EAL Specialist Effective assessment for learning (AfL) is ‘informed feedback to pupils about their work’ (Shaw, 1998). As Broadfoot et al (1999) […]