For more information, please contact us: \u00a0\u00a0EAL@falkirk.gov.uk<\/a><\/p>\n Welcome to our EAL Blog.<\/p>\n Language is the heart of children\u2019s learning. Young children experience a language explosion between the ages of 3 and 6. No wonder communication and language development are key areas of learning in early years settings.<\/p>\n Children\u2019s earliest language is acquired in the home and early years settings build on that foundation. Each child brings to nursery his\/ her own experience of language whereby language is not merely a means of communication but is very much linked to identity. Children\u2019s home language should be valued and celebrated.<\/p>\n Families use at home the language they are most comfortable with and we should never question this. On the contrary, we should encourage parents to talk, read, rhyme, sing, play and have fun together in their home language. Furthermore, it is important to allow children to express themselves in a language that they are comfortable with during free play and social activities.<\/p>\n In an Early Years setting you can explore different languages, have fun with languages. At this age most children are ready and excited to be exposed to another language. You can learn together greetings, numbers or colours in community languages. Listen to \u2018Head, shoulders, knee and toes\u2019 in different language versions and still be able to do the actions.<\/p>\n You are helping all children with their English language development, this is your bread and butter. In an Early Years setting you are in a very stimulating environment so children can use all their senses to learn. You model language and provide stimulation for communication. Here are some key strategies that foster English language learning and these strategies you are already using when communicating with all children:<\/p>\n Have a look at the resources here on the blog for further ideas and strategies.<\/p>\n EAL Service Guidance<\/p>\n CLPL \u2013 link<\/p>\n Support Strategies \u2013 link<\/p>\n Collecting and Recording Information\u00a0\u2013\u00a0link<\/p>\n Resources \u2013 link<\/p>\n Valuing Home Language \u2013 link<\/p>\n Further Reading \u2013 link<\/p>\n On-line Training \u2013 link<\/p>\n Further\u00a0Useful Websites \u2013 link<\/p>\n Due to Covid-19 restrictions, face-to-face CLPL sessions are on hold for the time being however please contact a member of the EAL team with any questions or to arrange on-line sessions for you or your setting.<\/strong><\/p>\n Support Strategies<\/strong><\/p>\n EAL Booklet from Scottish Border Council<\/a><\/p>\n This booklet from the Scottish Borders gives background information on the \u2018silent period\u2019, support strategies for listening and talking for young bilingual learners, using stories, ICT and many other ways to develop language. It also highlights the importance of involving parents and how this can be addressed. Should you have concerns about English language acquisition, following the guidance in the booklet will help you identify if support is required from other agencies.<\/p>\n Support\u00a0for bilingual pupils in\u00a0early\u00a0years\u00a0settings Toolkit\u00a0\u2013\u00a0PowerPoint<\/p>\n Teddy Talk, Highland Council<\/strong><\/p>\n Teddy Talk is a structured language development programme for EAL pupils in nursery schools. It is adapted from the original CHAT (Communication , Help and Awareness Team) programme provided by various Speech & Language Therapy services in Scotland. Lesson plans and visuals can be downloaded from their website.<\/p>\n http:\/\/ealhighland.org.uk\/resources\/teddy-talk-narrative-based-language-development-programme-eal-children-nursery-school\/<\/a><\/p>\n EAL Enrolment Meeting Summary Sheet – ELC<\/a><\/p>\n The nursery enrolment language profile should be used in conjunction with the Council Enrolment form for all children.<\/p>\n It has been designed to allow nursery staff to use the initial meeting with parents and an interpreter to ask questions, and find out other relevant information, about a child whose first language is not English.<\/p>\n The idea is that it is a guide to the conversation that you are having with the parents, not that it should be sent away to be completed. Of course you will have thought of these questions yourself but we hope it will be a handy aide-memoire at the initial parents\u2019 meeting.<\/p>\n We have introduced this form because this information cannot be gathered in the usual way through informal chats or conversation with the parent or child because of the language barrier.<\/p>\n It is hoped that this will build a good foundation for nursery and allow the staff to settle the child more easily and lead to lots of happy learning.<\/p>\n EAL Development – Planning and Tracking Sheet ELC<\/a><\/p>\n This form allows you to track the progress of language development in talking, listening and early literacy and numeracy. It also indicates some social\/emotional development areas as well as providing a tool to plan appropriate learning experiences.<\/p>\n Language Levels -Descriptor ELC<\/a><\/p>\n This form describes how the broad stages in language development are identified. Progression from stage 1 to Stage 5 can take up to 10 years and individuals are likely to show characteristics of more than one \u2018stage\u2019 at one time.<\/p>\n Working with Interpreters – Best Practise Guidelines<\/a><\/p>\n This form covers when to book an interpreter and best practise tips.<\/p>\n Picture Fan (pupils)\u00a0–\u00a0link<\/p>\n Picture fan (staff)\u00a0\u00a0–\u00a0link<\/p>\n Routine cards\u00a0\u2013\u00a0link<\/p>\n Picture fans and routine cards give the pupil a visual hook to aid communication throughout the day.<\/p>\n Dual-language books \/ Home language books\u00a0from LRS<\/p>\n To access Library Support for Schools library catalogue, staff can use the OLIVER system in schools or contact them directly:<\/p>\n Tel.: <\/u>01324 501980<\/a><\/p>\n LRS@falkirk.gov.uk<\/a><\/p>\n The Language of the Month<\/strong><\/p>\n https:\/\/www.newburyparkschool.net\/lotm\/index.html<\/a><\/p>\n Interactive video clips showing children teaching their home language. More than 65 languages are introduced.<\/p>\n Furthermore, The Language of the Month website offers lots of FREE resources for promoting language awareness, for instance, resources for putting language displays, a booklet with 100+ ideas of celebrating community languages and lots more.<\/p>\n Children\u2019s rhymes and songs<\/strong>, counting songs in different languages<\/p>\n www.youtube.com<\/a><\/p>\n Dual language posters<\/strong> (English phrase or keyword with translation in\u00a018 plus\u00a0languages<\/p>\n Days of the week, name of months, colours, numbers 1 to 10 available in Polish, Spanish, French and German<\/p>\n http:\/\/www.schoolslinks.co.uk\/resources_dl.htm<\/a><\/p>\n Dual-language books \/ Home language books<\/strong>\u00a0–\u00a0\u00a0link\u00a0to LRS<\/p>\n To access Library Support for Schools library catalogue, staff can use the OLIVER system in schools or contact them directly:<\/p>\n Tel.: <\/u>01324 501980<\/a><\/p>\n LRS@falkirk.gov.uk<\/a><\/p>\n Storybook UK\u00a0 <\/strong>is a free open educational resource that promotes literacy and language learning in homes, schools, and communities. Part of the\u00a0 Global Storybooks project, it makes 40 stories from the African Storybook available with text and audio in English and the most widely spoken languages of the UK. Share and enjoy!<\/p>\n https:\/\/global-asp.github.io\/storybooks-uk\/<\/p>\n Unite Books<\/strong>\u00a0are short, colourful, and easy to understand with picture\/text format and narration in English and over 40 other languages. New books and languages are added every month.<\/p>\n https:\/\/www.uniteforliteracy.com\/<\/a><\/p>\n The International Children\u2019s Digital Library (ICDL)<\/strong><\/p>\n A free online library of digitized children\u2019s books in many languages from various countries. Designed specifically for use by children ages 3 to13. It provides free access to high-quality books from around the world.<\/p>\n http:\/\/en.childrenslibrary.org\/<\/a><\/p>\n WorldStories<\/strong>\u00a0is a growing collection of stories from around the world. The collection includes retold traditional tales and new short stories in different languages. New stories, translations, pictures and sound recordings are added every week.<\/p>\n https:\/\/worldstories.org.uk\/<\/a><\/p>\n Multilingual Families<\/strong><\/p>\n Multilingual Families is an international project that helps parents bring up their children multilingually.<\/p>\n Introduction to parents: Why raise my children multilingually?<\/p>\n Available in 24 languages<\/strong>: Arabic, BKS, Bulgarian, Catalan, Chinese, Czech, English,\u00a0Euskera, French, Galician, German, Greek, Hindi, Italian, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Russian, Slovak, Spanish, Turkish, Ukrainian, Urdu, Vietnamese.<\/p>\n http:\/\/www.multilingual-families.eu\/home<\/a><\/p>\n Hold On to your Home Language!<\/strong><\/p>\n The booklet is available in\u00a026 languages.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n https:\/\/www.ryerson.ca\/mylanguage\/brochures\/<\/a><\/p>\n Learning in 2(+)\u00a0Languages<\/strong>\u00a0 –\u00a0Ensuring Effective Inclusion for Bilingual Learners<\/p>\n https:\/\/education.gov.scot\/media\/y5jfn5gg\/learning_in_two_languages.pdf<\/a><\/p>\n An online encyclopaedia of writing systems and languages\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n http:\/\/www.omniglot.com\/<\/a><\/p>\n Supporting Bilingualism and EAL<\/strong><\/p>\n This online learning opportunity has been developed in partnership with Education Scotland, Glasgow City Council and SCILT (Scotland\u2019s National Centre for Languages)<\/p>\n https:\/\/blogs.glowscotland.org.uk\/glowblogs\/supportingbilingualism\/<\/a><\/p>\n LearnEnglish\u00a0Kids is a British Council website\u00a0with\u00a0lots of free online games, songs, stories and activities for children.<\/p>\n http:\/\/learnenglishkids.britishcouncil.org\/<\/a><\/p>\n Welcome to our EAL Blog. We hope you find the contents helpful if you have an EAL pupil in your class for the first time or are just wishing to further develop your own knowledge to support pupils in your class. It is our experience that schools already provide a welcoming and supportive environment in which EAL pupils can develop their oral and literacy development in English.\u00a0 The learning of all pupils can be enriched by valuing and respecting the cultural and linguistic identities of EAL pupils and through good practice in the use of visual, concrete, interactive and collaborative activities suitable for EAL learners. It is important to remember, that although new to English, bilingual children bring with them a rich and highly developed linguistic knowledge which provides strong foundations and transferable language skills.<\/p>\n EAL Service\u00a0Guidance for Schools\u00a0– Link<\/p>\n CLPL \u2013 link<\/p>\n Support Strategies \u2013 link<\/p>\n Collecting and Recording Information \u2013 link<\/p>\n Resources \u2013 link<\/p>\n Valuing Home Language \u2013 link<\/p>\n Further Reading \u2013 link<\/p>\n On-line Training \u2013 link<\/p>\n Websites\u00a0to support language\u00a0acquisition- link<\/p>\n Due to Covid-19 restrictions, face-to-face CLPL are on hold for the time being, however please contact us with any questions or to arrange on-line sessions for you or your setting<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Support for Bilingual Pupils in Primary\u00a0Toolkit- link (PowerPoint)<\/p>\n Support for Bilingual Pupils in Secondary Toolkit (Powerpoint)- link<\/p>\n Collaborative Learning<\/strong> develops, shares and disseminates talk for learning activities in all subject areas and for all ages.<\/p>\n Great resources for supporting language development through subject areas<\/p>\n http:\/\/www.collaborativelearning.org\/<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n Barefoot Bytes <\/strong>offers quick collaborative activities that foster problem solving skills<\/p>\n https:\/\/www.barefootcomputing.org\/barefootbytes<\/a><\/p>\n Activities to support multilingualism at school.\u00a0<\/strong>A teacher\u2019s guide on how to motivate children\u00a0to\u00a0use languages.<\/p>\n http:\/\/www.multilingual-families.eu\/repository\/for-teachers\/teachers-guide<\/a><\/p>\n Immersive Reader<\/strong><\/p>\n Immersive Reader is a free Microsoft tool, built into Word, OneNote, Outlook, Office Lens, Microsoft Teams, Forms, Flipgrid, Minecraft Education Edition and the Edge browser. It can help improve reading comprehension by increasing fluency for English language learners or readers of other languages. It can provide translation of words, or the entire text into over 60 languages (over 40 of them can be read aloud). This tool is a fantastic resource for allowing pupils to learn independently and also to be included in class lessons. Try it out yourself: <\/strong>http:\/\/aka.ms\/InclusiveReadingDemo<\/a><\/p>\n EAL Strategy Booklet for Primary Schools \u2013 link<\/p>\n This Booklet provides advice on strategies to use for primary pupils across, listening, talking, reading and writing at the four levels of language acquisition. The list is not exhaustive nor is it to suggest that all of the strategies should be used. You own setting and pupils will determined which ones are appropriate and can be implemented.<\/p>\n EAL Strategy Booklet for Secondary Schools \u2013 link<\/p>\n This Booklet provides advice on strategies to use for secondary pupils across, listening, talking, reading and writing at the four levels of language acquisition. The list is not exhaustive nor is it to suggest that all of the strategies should be used. You own setting and pupils will determined which ones are appropriate and can be implemented.<\/p>\n Advice for Supporting New to English Learners \u2013 link<\/p>\n This Booklet gives advice on how to prepare for an Early Stage learner in your class and information about wider school good practice.<\/p>\n Advice for Supporting Advanced Learners of EAL\u2013 link<\/p>\n Advanced (or later stage) learners of English as an Additional Language are pupils who have had usually 2 – 3 or more years of exposure to English, and are at stage 3 or 4 of the \u2018Stages of English Language Acquisition\u2019 (ScotXEd). Advanced learners include bilingual pupils born in this country who may appear to be fluent in conversational contexts but may require continued support in order to fully access the curriculum and develop cognitive and academic English language proficiency. This booklet contains advice and strategies to ensure EAL learners are able to reach their full potential.<\/p>\n EAL Language Level Descriptor \u2013 link<\/p>\n This form describes how the broad stages in language development are identified. Progression from stage 1 to Stage 5 can take up to 10 years and individuals are likely to show characteristics of more than one \u2018stage\u2019 at one time.<\/p>\n EAL Development – Planning and Tracking Sheet for Primary Schools<\/a><\/p>\n This forms allows you track progress across the language levels for Listening & Talking, Reading and Writing. There is a list of the skills involved in each language level across the curricular areas mentioned. It is advisable to complete this activity twice a year as it will highlight the pupils development needs for future planning.<\/p>\n EAL Development -Planning and Tracking Sheet for Secondary Schools<\/a><\/p>\n This form allows you track progress across the language levels for Listening & Talking, Reading and Writing. There is a list of the skills involved in each language level across the curricular areas mentioned. It is advisable to complete this activity twice a year as it will highlight the pupil\u2019s development needs for future planning.<\/p>\n Identifying Support Needs EAL – ASN<\/a><\/p>\n If you have concerns about a pupil\u2019s language acquisition, then completing this form will support your assessment of the reasons for their difficulties. It will help to identify if there are other barriers to learning involved.<\/p>\n Working with Interpreters – Best Practise Guidelines<\/a><\/p>\n This document gives Best Practise Tips when working with\u00a0 interpreters and guidance on when to book an interpreter.<\/p>\n Picture Fan (pupils) – link<\/p>\n Picture fan (staff)\u00a0\u00a0–\u00a0link<\/p>\n Routine cards – link<\/p>\n Dual-language books \/ First language books<\/strong>\u00a0from LRS<\/p>\n To access Library Support for Schools library catalogue, staff can use the OLIVER system in schools or contact them directly:<\/p>\n Tel.: 01324 501980<\/a><\/p>\n LRS@falkirk.gov.uk<\/a><\/p>\n Non-fiction Reading Schemes\u00a0(Oxford Read & Discover, National Geographic Kids)\u00a0available for loan\u00a0from the EAL Service<\/p>\n Wide range of language acquisition resources are available for loan from the EAL Service.<\/p>\n The Language of the Month<\/strong><\/p>\n Interactive video clips showing children teaching their home language. More than 65 languages are introduced.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n Furthermore, The Language of the Month website offers lots of FREE resources for promoting language awareness, for instance, resources for putting language displays, a booklet with 100+ ideas of celebrating community languages and lots more.<\/p>\n https:\/\/www.newburyparkschool.net\/lotm\/index.html<\/a><\/p>\n Dual-language books \/ First language books from Learning Resource Service (LRS)<\/strong><\/p>\n To access Library Support for Schools library catalogue, staff can use the OLIVER system in schools or contact them directly:<\/p>\n Tel.:\u00a001324 501980<\/a><\/p>\n LRS@falkirk.gov.uk<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Storybook UK\u00a0 <\/strong>is a free open educational resource that promotes literacy and language learning in homes, schools, and communities. Part of the\u00a0 Global Storybooks project, it makes 40 stories from the African Storybook available with text and audio in English and the most widely spoken languages of the UK. Share and enjoy!<\/p>\n https:\/\/global-asp.github.io\/storybooks-uk\/<\/p>\n Unite Books<\/strong>\u00a0are short, colourful, and easy to understand with picture\/text format and narration in English\u00a0and\u00a0 40\u00a0other languages. New books and languages are added every month.<\/p>\n https:\/\/www.uniteforliteracy.com\/<\/a><\/p>\n Children\u2019s rhymes and songs, counting songs in different languages<\/p>\n www.youtube.com<\/a><\/p>\n Dual language posters (English phrase or keyword with translation in\u00a018 plus<\/strong>\u00a0languages<\/p>\n Days of the week, name of months, colours, numbers 1 to 10 available in Polish, Spanish, French and German<\/p>\n http:\/\/www.schoolslinks.co.uk\/resources_dl.htm<\/a><\/p>\n Activities to support multilingualism at school.\u00a0<\/strong>A teacher\u2019s guide on how to motivate children\u00a0to\u00a0use languages.<\/p>\n http:\/\/www.multilingual-families.eu\/repository\/for-teachers\/teachers-guide<\/a><\/p>\n The International Children\u2019s Digital Library (ICDL)<\/strong><\/p>\n A free online library of digitized children\u2019s books in many languages from various countries. Designed specifically for use by children ages 3 to13. It provides free access to high-quality books from around the world.<\/p>\n http:\/\/en.childrenslibrary.org\/<\/a><\/p>\n Learning in 2(+)\u00a0Languages<\/strong>\u00a0 –\u00a0Ensuring Effective Inclusion for Bilingual Learners<\/p>\n education.gov.scot<\/a><\/p>\n What teachers should know about multilingualism?<\/strong>\u00a0The\u00a0paper\u00a0is\u00a0based on the research carried out at the beginning of the project. It will contain a pedagogical view of mother tongue multilingual education, patterns of language acquisition in children and reasons why not to omit education in the first language.<\/p>\n http:\/\/www.multilingual-families.eu\/repository\/for-teachers\/pedagogic-background-manual<\/a><\/p>\n Why raise children multilingual?<\/strong>\u00a0Introductory brochure for teachers with questions they might be asked by parents<\/p>\n http:\/\/www.multilingual-families.eu\/repository\/for-teachers\/introduction-for-teachers<\/a><\/p>\n NALDIC<\/strong>\u00a0is the national subject association for English as an additional language. NALDIC provides\u00a0a\u00a0 professional\u00a0forum for learning more about English as an Additional Language (EAL) and bilingual learners in schools.<\/p>\n www.naldic.org.uk<\/a><\/p>\n An online encyclopaedia of writing systems and languages<\/p>\n http:\/\/www.omniglot.com\/<\/a><\/p>\n Supporting Bilingualism and EAL<\/strong><\/p>\n This online learning opportunity has been developed in partnership with Education Scotland, Glasgow City Council and SCILT (Scotland\u2019s National Centre for Languages)<\/p>\n https:\/\/blogs.glowscotland.org.uk\/glowblogs\/supportingbilingualism\/<\/a><\/p>\n LearnEnglish\u00a0Kids<\/strong>\u00a0is a British Council website with lots of free online games, songs, stories and activities for children.<\/p>\n http:\/\/learnenglishkids.britishcouncil.org\/<\/a><\/p>\n LearnEnglish\u00a0Teens<\/strong>\u00a0is a British Council website to learn English while having fun.\u00a0LearnEnglish\u00a0Teens can help improve your English with reading, writing and listening practice, tips for exams, grammar and vocabulary exercises, games and videos. You can also interact with other teenagers from all around the world.<\/p>\n https:\/\/learnenglishteens.britishcouncil.org\/<\/a><\/p>\n British Council website with videos, listening activities, texts and grammar exercises for\u00a0ESOL\u00a0<\/strong>learners at every level<\/p>\n http:\/\/www.esol.britishcouncil.org<\/a><\/p>\n Learn English online<\/strong>\u00a0using our high-quality resources to quickly improve your English. This website is created for adult learners of English<\/p>\n https:\/\/learnenglish.britishcouncil.org\/<\/a><\/p>\n Translated\u00a0resources are available, e.g. in Arabic, Polish, Romanian, Mandarin (Chinese), Portuguese and Urdu.\u00a0However\u00a0for many resources a subscription is needed.<\/p>\nEarly Learning and Childcare<\/h1>\n
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CLPL<\/h3>\n
Collecting and\u00a0Recording\u00a0Information<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Resources<\/h3>\n
Valuing Home Language<\/h3>\n
Further reading<\/h3>\n
Online training<\/h3>\n
Further Useful Websites<\/h3>\n
SCHOOLS<\/h1>\n
CLPL<\/h3>\n
Support Strategies<\/h3>\n
Collecting and Recording information<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Resources<\/h3>\n
Valuing Home Language<\/h3>\n
Further Reading<\/h3>\n
Online training<\/h3>\n
Websites to Support English Language Acquisition<\/h3>\n