EAL Creating a ‘Safe’ and Welcoming Classroom Environment

Creating a ‘Safe’ and Welcoming Classroom Environment

Inform the group/class about the arrival of the EAL learner and give some background details regarding his/her country of origin and first language.

Display a 'Welcome' sign in pupil's first language. (See 'Welcome' booklet, available from Bracknell Forest Education Centre)

Learn how to pronounce and spell pupil's names and encourage the class to do likewise.

Position the EAL learner near the front of the class.

Seat the EAL learner with a 'buddy': a pupil who is likely to understand some of the difficulties an EAL learnerl may be experiencing and will offer good models of English.

Refer to a map and photographs of the EAL learner's home country and town. See 'Resources' list for useful websites.
Encourage an exchange of language between new EAL learner and the rest of the class.

Give the pupil vocabulary sheets with diagrams together with their first language and English words. These are available in science - downloadable from the Becta website: see 'Resources ' list.

Keep a copy of a dual language dictionary in the classroom.

Refer to useful subject and translation websites - give these to the EAL learner and ensure the details are displayed in the LRC and tutor room.

Provide models of the type of questions beginners in English might need to ask in class on a regular basis and encourage and praise experimentation with these. These could be displayed in poster form.

Explain the language you use when marking EAL learners' work and ensure that they understand the phrases you say/write - see translation web sites on 'Resources' list.

Provide EAL learners with the homework language grid so that they may translate the terms used and paste it into their planner/diary for reference on a daily basis.

Provide the EAL learner with an indexed book to use as a subject-specific glossary. See 'Resources' list for details.

Correct the EAL learner's language in a positive manner.

Here are some resources that give students opportunities to learn about refugees and new arrivals

I am Here! is a Save the Children citizenship Key Stage 3 resource pack for teaching about refugees, identity, inclusion and the media. It includes lesson plans, a video of young refugees’ testimony and other resource materials to raise awareness among indigenous school populations about diversity and refugees. It also includes a one-hour training programme to increase teachers’ confidence in teaching about refugees.
Student Action for Refugees (STAR) involves a youth programme visiting schools to raise awareness about the issues facing refugees. The organisation also has numerous resources for use in schools.
Haringey Refugee Education Resources is an example of a website that provides schools with learning materials to promote refugee awareness.
Moving Here: Welcoming new communities to the East of England: An educational resource for primary Key Stage 2 is available from www.glypt.co.uk with a DVD and teacher’s pack.
EU Accession Migrant Worker Families: A learning experience (www.educationbradford.com) shows EU Migrant workers sharing their experiences of life and schooling in their home countries and in England – DVD and resource pack.




	Creating a ‘Safe’ and Welcoming Classroom Environment Inform the group/class about the arrival of the EAL learner and give some background details regarding his/her country of origin and first language. Display a 'Welcome' sign in pupil's first language. (See 'Welcome' booklet, available from Bracknell Forest Education Centre) Learn how to pronounce and spell pupil's names and encourage the class to do likewise. Position the EAL learner near the front of the class. Seat the EAL learner with a 'buddy': a pupil who is likely to understand some of the difficulties an EAL learnerl may be experiencing and will offer good models of English. Refer to a map and photographs of the EAL learner's home country and town. See 'Resources' list for useful websites. Encourage an exchange of language between new EAL learner and the rest of the class. Give the pupil vocabulary sheets with diagrams together with their first language and English words. These are available in science - downloadable from the Becta website: see 'Resources ' list. Keep a copy of a dual language dictionary in the classroom. Refer to useful subject and translation websites - give these to the EAL learner and ensure the details are displayed in the LRC and tutor room. Provide models of the type of questions beginners in English might need to ask in class on a regular basis and encourage and praise experimentation with these. These could be displayed in poster form. Explain the language you use when marking EAL learners' work and ensure that they understand the phrases you say/write - see translation web sites on 'Resources' list. Provide EAL learners with the homework language grid so that they may translate the terms used and paste it into their planner/diary for reference on a daily basis. Provide the EAL learner with an indexed book to use as a subject-specific glossary. See 'Resources' list for details. Correct the EAL learner's language in a positive manner. Here are some resources that give students opportunities to learn about refugees and new arrivals I am Here! is a Save the Children citizenship Key Stage 3 resource pack for teaching about refugees, identity, inclusion and the media. It includes lesson plans, a video of young refugees’ testimony and other resource materials to raise awareness among indigenous school populations about diversity and refugees. It also includes a one-hour training programme to increase teachers’ confidence in teaching about refugees. Student Action for Refugees (STAR) involves a youth programme visiting schools to raise awareness about the issues facing refugees. The organisation also has numerous resources for use in schools. Haringey Refugee Education Resources is an example of a website that provides schools with learning materials to promote refugee awareness. Moving Here: Welcoming new communities to the East of England: An educational resource for primary Key Stage 2 is available from www.glypt.co.uk with a DVD and teacher’s pack. EU Accession Migrant Worker Families: A learning experience (www.educationbradford.com) shows EU Migrant workers sharing their experiences of life and schooling in their home countries and in England – DVD and resource pack.