Effective teaching and learning for second language learners

1. Teaching English Language Learners across the curriculum | NSW Department of Education and Training, 2009 Effective teaching and learning for second language learners

2. Teaching English Language Learners across the curriculum | NSW Department of Education and Training, 2009 Why this course? • diverse student population: cultural and language diversity in most classrooms • many students need support learning English as a second language • classroom/ subject teachers best placed to meet needs but need support

3. Teaching English Language Learners across the curriculum | NSW Department of Education and Training, 2009 Course outcomes • you will understand and be able to assess TELL student strengths and needs better • you will understand how English as an additional language develops and how to help this process • you will understand better the language demands of different subject areas • you will be more confident in developing the spoken and written language of ESL (and all students) in your regular teaching

4. Teaching English Language Learners across the curriculum | NSW Department of Education and Training, 2009 Course topics • Learning English as a second language • Talking for learning • Creating ‘high challenge – high support’ environments • Reading for learning • Writing for learning • Bringing it all together

5. Teaching English Language Learners across the curriculum | NSW Department of Education and Training, 2009 Professional learning approach • the course works from what you know and what you want to know • there are six modules with between module tasks which involve you exploring your own and your students’ learning • the final task involves you preparing a presentation for the group on your findings from the between module tasks

6. Teaching English Language Learners across the curriculum | NSW Department of Education and Training, 2009 LBOTE and ESL learners LBOTE students are those whose parents or who themselves speak a language other than English in the home Of these LBOTE students, some need ESL support and some will be proficient in English ESL students are those LBOTE students who are learning English as a second language.

7. Teaching English Language Learners across the curriculum | NSW Department of Education and Training, 2009 LBOTE and ESL learners Total school population LBOTE population ESL population Refugees Migrants International Students

8. Teaching English Language Learners across the curriculum | NSW Department of Education and Training, 2009 Learner diversity LBOTE Students Near/at native ESL Students proficiency 1st Phase 2nd Phase 3rd Phase

9. Teaching English Language Learners across the curriculum | NSW Department of Education and Training, 2009 Students you teach LBOTE students: ESL students: New arrivals: Refugees: Language spoken: Countries of birth:

10. Teaching English Language Learners across the curriculum | NSW Department of Education and Training, 2009 Learning English It takes many years for native speakers of English to acquire fluency in spoken and written English. ESL students have to catch up in a limited time. ESL students must: - learn English, - learn through English and - learn about English at the same time (Halliday, 1980) Teachers need to understand HOW English is developed as a second language

11. Teaching English Language Learners across the curriculum | NSW Department of Education and Training, 2009 Language development • English, like other languages, is acquired in fairly predictable stages • second language learners largely follow the same stages as young children learning L1 • mistakes can be a sign of learning • learners are best taught language just ahead of their proficiency levels

12. Teaching English Language Learners across the curriculum | NSW Department of Education and Training, 2009 How long does it take to learn English? BICS & CALP According to Cummins (1984), there are 2 stages of language proficiency. The first stage includes Basic interpersonal Communication Skills (BICS) and the second stage is Cognitive/Academic Language Proficiency (CALP). It takes 1-2 years for a new ESL student to be fluent in the first stage (BICS) and 5 – 7 years for an ESL student to develop proficiency in CALP with ESL support. While these stages are sequential they may overlap in acquisition. Jim Cummins, Canadian researcher into second language learning and bilingualism

13. Teaching English Language Learners across the curriculum | NSW Department of Education and Training, 2009 How long does it take to learn English? students who have education in their first language can develop academic English in 4 years or less students who have disrupted education in their first language may take up to 10 years to develop academic English language students who have had no schooling in any language may take 7 to 12 years to develop academic English language

14. Teaching English Language Learners across the curriculum | NSW Department of Education and Training, 2009 Interaction and exposure • In the home environment young children appear to learn language easily because of the supportive conditions • interaction and exposure to language are the key factors in developing language proficiency • In the classroom these supportive conditions can be replicated

15. Teaching English Language Learners across the curriculum | NSW Department of Education and Training, 2009 What helps learning? • literacy skills in first language (L1) transfer to English • good L1 skills help learning in English • supporting the maintenance of L1 • using L1 in the classroom to support concept development • an inclusive curriculum • interaction in English in social and academic situations