EAL with Mrs Scopas

EAL 2026

Hello and welcome to the 2026 school year!  My name is Mary Scopas and I am the EAL teacher.

I would like to give a warm welcome to the families who are new to our school community.  I  would also like to wish our existing families a wonderful start to the new year, and a Happy Chinese New Year to those celebrating. 

I teach the English as an Additional Language curriculum to students who are new to the Australian school system and who are assessed as requiring significant support with their English language development. 

It has been a productive start to the school year as students have made new friends, learned new routines, and continued becoming familiar with the Australian school environment. The SEAL program encourages students to practise speaking English in a supportive setting, alongside explicit instruction in writing and reading. Learning is meaningful as we explore topics that students can connect with, such as Chinese New Year, family, hobbies, and favourite foods. Engaging and relevant texts are used to support connections to students’ lives and to guide our work in Narrative Writing.

Students in Years 4 and 5 have also been developing their oral language skills by presenting persuasive speeches to their peers on topics such as school gardens, the importance of homework, and the benefits of sport. The focus has been on pace, volume, eye contact, and building confidence in skills that support classroom participation. 

Spelling and grammar continue to be an important part of written instruction, and each student in the program has individual learning goals. I look forward to seeing their continued growth and engagement as they develop their Speaking and Listening, Reading, and Writing skills.