English as an Additional Language (EAL)

Principles

Students eligible for the English as an Additional Language Curriculum are students who;

• Speak a language other than English at home
• Have received education primarily in another language within 7 years of enrolment at an English-speaking school

EAL Eligibility

Eligibility for the EAL Curriculum will be assessed by the EAL Coordinator at the beginning of each year. Students will be reviewed if they have been educated primarily in a language other than English, and have arrived in Australia less than seven years from the date of assessment.

The criteria for EAL Eligibility is flexible, and students who fall outside of this criteria may be considered if it is determined by the EAL Coordinator and Classroom Teachers that this program would benefit them. The EAL Coordinator will use census data to identify students. Where appropriate, the EAL Coordinator will attend enrolment interviews and conduct the DET Language & Learning Interview as part of the enrolment process.

The EAL Coordinator will conduct a Language and Learning Interview with every EAL student upon their enrolment. A reasonable attempt will be made to include the parents in this process. A translator may be required, and will be sourced using Language Loop. In the event that parents cannot be reached, the student will be interviewed in the presence of a student manager. A translator will be utilised if required.

Identifying EAL Students

A list of EAL students will be disseminated to staff at the beginning of each year. This list will include;

• The name and year level of the student
• Their home language
• Their most recent C-Level assessment, as made by their English teacher
• Their eligibility for VCE EAL (English pathway)

Each EAL Student will also have a pinned Compass Chronicle, identifying them as EAL. This will include;

• Their home language
• The necessity of an interpreter for home contact
• VCE EAL eligibility (English pathway)
• Language and Learning interview
• EAL Literacy Strategies

Graduated EAL students will retain their pinned EAL Compass Chronicle, amended to appear as “EAL Graduated”. EAL students will not have an Individual Learning Plan unless it is required for another reason (i.e., Autism, Dyslexia etc)

EAL Differentiation

All subjects are required to differentiate appropriately for EAL students, and document this as per their faculty guidelines. Any resources and assessments created for EAL students should be uploaded to a shared drive, for all staff to access.

EAL differentiation should appear in documented MAPS, with any resources or adjustments to learning activities recorded using red text.

EAL students will also require modified exams for all relevant subjects. These exams should be identified using a coloured cover sheet. All EAL students should be allowed a bilingual dictionary to support them in assessment.

EAL Assessment & Reporting

All EAL students are to be assessed against the EAL Curriculum. English teachers will be required to report on the C-Levels at the end of each semester. All EAL students are eligible for modified assessments across all subjects, at the discretion of the classroom teacher.

EAL Graduation Process

EAL students will be eligible to graduate from the EAL Curriculum when the following criteria are met:

• Assessments are no longer required to be modified to support the student
• The English teacher has assessed them as achieving C4 for all three strands: Reading, Writing and Speaking & Listening
• The English teacher has a reasonable belief the student will be assessed as at level with their peers for Victorian Curriculum Levels.

The English teacher will inform the EAL Coordinator that the student is ready to be graduated. The EAL Coordinator will review, and inform all staff that this student is no longer accessing the EAL Curriculum. The EAL Coordinator will contact the parents, informing them of the graduation. The student will no longer be eligible for modified assessments in any subject. Classwork can be differentiated as normal.

Please note, Graduation from the F-10 EAL Curriculum will not preclude students from accessing VCE EAL if eligible.