Learning and Teaching

Literacy

English and English as an Additional Language (EAL) Curriculum and Reporting

In Australian schools, learning is accessed, and achievement is demonstrated through English. At Holy Family, we decide whether a child should be placed on the English as an Additional Language (EAL) or the English curriculum and whether children should receive an EAL or an English report. 

EAL students are those whose first language is a language other than English and who require additional support to develop proficiency in the English language. EAL students’ experiences, understandings and expectations may differ from those assumed to be ‘common knowledge in Australian classrooms and must therefore be taken into account. EAL students need to learn English, learn through English and learn about English. 

They, therefore, may require specific support in the classroom to build the English language skills needed to access the general curriculum, in addition to learning area-specific language structures and vocabulary.

Through the EAL curriculum, students develop English language competence in the modes of Speaking and Listening, Reading and Viewing, and Writing. Students are provided with various opportunities to support the development of communicative skills, linguistic knowledge and cultural understanding. The EAL curriculum offers opportunities for students to draw on their knowledge of the language/s spoken at home to enhance their developing English language experience.

Over the next few weeks, we will contact some parents of Prep students to discuss the end-of-year report and which report will best outline their child's progress as an EAL learner. 

Simone Crist

Literacy Leader