English as an Additional Language/Dialect
Carlingford High School provides support for students learning English as an additional language or dialect (EAL/D) so that they can fully participate in schooling and reach their full potential. At Carlingford High School, the EAL/D student support program aims to develop EAL/D students' English language competence and improve their learning outcomes throughout the curriculum to a level where they can fully participate in schooling and independently pursue further education and training. EAL/D teaching and learning focusses on students learning English in context and across the curriculum so that they acquire the English language skills relevant to each content area. For this reason, EAL/D specialist teaching needs to be integrated as far as possible within different subjects, so that students are supported to learn the specific language, including the vocabulary, text types and communication modes that are appropriate and necessary for different disciplines and curriculum areas.
EAL/D pedagogy encompasses teaching strategies and considerations that teachers can use to cater for the specific learning needs of EAL/D students in their classrooms. Our specialist EALD teachers begin by identifying their students' level of English language proficiency and becoming familiar with their students' cultural understandings. Through multiple and explicit sharing opportunities, EALD staff share this information with colleagues across the school to support the implementation of best practice to improve learning outcomes. By making learning intentions and success criteria explicit, teachers can build shared knowledge using a range of strategies including frontloading, message abundancy and scaffolding, and by stressing the importance of oral language. Teachers are also made aware of the impact of cultural capital, of maintaining first language competency and develop an understanding about second language acquisition. In order to effectively support the needs of EAL/D students in learning across the curriculum, all teachers at CHS identify the language and literacy demands and any assumed cultural and conceptual knowledge underlying the curriculum and texts used in class programs. When planning for teaching, they identify target curriculum outcomes and learning goals. Unpacking the language learning demands for EAL/D learners means identifying the requirements of tasks, the language processes and the types of texts students are required to respond to and produce in a range of subjects.
The school provides expert support to develop these important competencies in all teachers and students through
- collaboration for planning and programming
- team teaching and other cooperative teaching strategies
- student withdrawals
- senior study support (morning classes, study period classes)
- after school support (homework club)