EAL AT BLOOMSBURY
English is the medium of teaching at Bloomsbury. As most schools around SE Asia, we have a high percentage of students requiring English as an Additional Language (EAL).
We believe that all students have a right to access the curriculum, which is why we base our EAL provision on a model of Sheltered Immersion. Students on the EAL programme are well-supported at Bloomsbury and it is the objective of the EAL department to improve proficiency in English to a suitable enough level to be able to access the curriculum independently.
Children who enter the school during Early Years can learn English sufficiently enough to cope with the demands of a classroom. However, children arriving in higher year groups often need additional support in English language. For students in Year 3 to Year 6, we offer an EAL programme for those whose English language skills are emerging and developing.
WHAT IS ENGLISH AS AN ADDITIONAL LANGUAGE (EAL) PROGRAMME?
- EAL is intensive English language instruction by teachers trained in effective language acquisition strategies who work with English Language Learners.
- EAL instruction shall be commensurate with the student’s level of English proficiency and academic achievement.
- An EAL programme provides intensive instruction that develops competency in the listening, speaking, reading, and writing of the English language.
- Those students who have scored very low on the NGRT Test will have to attend EAL for anywhere from 1 Term up to 2 years. The Head of EAL and the test determines when the student can return to mainstream classes.
WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF AN EAL PROGRAMME?
- An EAL programme develops competence in English and self-esteem.
- An EAL programme prepares the students to be successful in all academic subjects.
- An EAL programme helps students in mathematics, science, and social studies, using research-based methodologies appropriate for second language acquisition.
WHO IS ELIGIBLE FOR AN EAL PROGRAMME?
- Students from Year 3 up to Y10 who speak or hear a language other than English in their home and who are learning English are eligible.
- Students in Y4-Y10 will be assessed with the New Group Reading Test (NGRT) in language proficiency, based on their results. If their Reading Age is more than 5 years from their Chronological Age, they will go to EAL.
WILL MY CHILD BE TAUGHT THE SAME SUBJECTS AND LEARN THE SAME SKILLS AS STUDENTS IN THE REGULAR PROGRAMME?
- No, although instruction is in English the level of the student’s English language proficiency determine where the starting point is.
- Students who cannot access the English Curriculum will be withdrawn for English and Humanities. This can be either a partial withdrawal or a full.
WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR TEACHING AN EAL PROGRAMME?
EAL teachers are highly qualified, specially trained and certified to teach in EAL settings. Our EAL teachers have either a Masters Degree, a PGCE, and a Bachelor’s Degree or a Bachelor’s Degree with a TEFL/TESOL.
HOW IS AN EAL PROGRAMME DIFFERENT FROM ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS INSTRUCTION?
- The focus is on learning social and academic English within the context of all content area subjects.
- Key Stages 2-4 will be taught differently depending on the needs of the student. KS4 is highly Academic and requires not only a lot of work but commitment from the EAL students.
HOW CAN PARENTS HELP THEIR CHILD LEARN BY PARTICIPATING IN AN EAL PROGRAMME?
- Parents must continue their child’s educational learning experience at home.
- Parents can come and speak to any member of the EAL team at any time.
- Parents can become involved at home by encouraging their child to achieve, providing him/her a place to study and showing interest in his/her schoolwork