In our school, we have children who come from a diversity of backgrounds.Therefore, it is important that our teachers meet the language and learning needs of our children for whom English is an additional language so that the child can access all areas of the Primary School Curriculum.
When is a child in receipt of EAL support?
•If a child has lived in a non- English speaking country before coming to Ireland
•If a child has been born in Ireland but speaks another language at home
•If a child comes from a home where their parents may speak English as a second language
•If a child has lived in Ireland for some time but does not have sufficient literacy skills to engage fully with the curriculum
How do we assess children?
We use the Primary School Assessment Kit to assess children in Listening and Speaking (Junior Infants to 6th) and Reading and Writing (1st to 6th).
How does it work?
Children in receipt of EAL support usually go out to the EAL teacher in small groups 2 or 5 times per week. Children learn English using a thematic approach which is based on the Up and Away programme. There are 13 themes which include Myself, Our School, Food and Clothes, to name a few. The focus is on building listening, speaking, reading and writing skills. Children learn new vocabulary and phrases using fun games, rhymes and stories. Children from 1st class to 6th class also do reading and writing activities.
In our EAL lessons, we play lots of language games to improve our listening and speaking skills, read short stories and write on interesting topics. We have lots of fun!
