ENGLISH AS AN ADDITIONAL LANGUAGE
EAL Unit
Supporting Bilingual Learners in Schools
In the SEELB there are approximately 320 bilingual pupils, they are currently supported by 1 Assistant Advisory Officer, 1 full-time EAL teacher, 16 EAL Part-time teachers and a Home/School Liaison Officer for the Chinese Community.
The English as an Additional Language (EAL) unit was set up in 1992 to:
- assist schools to identify and meet the needs of EAL pupils
- assist schools to provide bilingual learners with access to the whole school curriculum
- support homes/ school links
- promote the schools to provide appropriate support for EAL pupils
The EAL team provides:
Information about:
- support for EAL learners in the mainstream
- EAL learners in general
- assessment of EAL learners and those whose learning may be causing concern
Training
During the school year a number of INSET days are offered to EAL and Mainstream teachers on bilingual issues.
Resources
The resources include teacher books, course books, materials produced by pupils and dual text readers. Schools may borrow these from the unit.
Home/School Liaison Officer
Presently one officer is employed to support Chinese families within the Board area. The officer assists with:
- translations of letters and school documents
- interviews/meetings with teachers and parents
- home visits
- meetings with Health Trust agents
- interviews with Education Psychologists
- helping parents to contribute to their children’s education by communicating important information
- interviews with New Arrivals and Parents in Schools
Interpreters/translators from time to time have been needed for other minority ethnic groups. The team will make every effort to provide one. The EAL Unit has developed close links with a number of local agencies. This has enabled the EAL Advisory Officer to provide schools with local contacts.
It is important that schools recognise that interpreters should be given as much information as possible before an interview and should not be expected to interpret on the spot. It should be acknowledged that translation of documents may take time.
