eal @ misy...show the ks3 student is at least at the bridging level (5) in all four language skills...

EAL @ MISY

Supporting English Language Learners at MISY

Sep 9, 2015

Myanmar International SchoolYangon

What is EAL?

EAL stands for English as an

Additional Language for

students who need extra

support or learning strategies

to help them learn or improve

their English language skills.


What will EAL do for my child?

The EAL Programme’s goal is to develop all four

language skills so that all students can understand

what they are learning in their different classes.

Speaking

Listening

Reading

Writing

The EAL Programme is designed so that, with effort, your child will succeed at the IGCSE and A-Levels and go on to an English-speaking University.


How Long Will it Take?

“Researchers into second language acquisition have

estimated that it takes between 5 to 7 years for an

ESL student to catch up with his native-speaking

peers as far as academic language is concerned.”

http://esl.fis.edu/parent/advice/quest1.htm


http://esl.fis.edu/parent/advice/quest1.htm

How Long Will it Take? – Social and

Academic language

There are different timelines for learning

social and academic (school) language:

• Under perfect conditions, it takes the

average ESL learner 2 years to develop

everyday social language.

• BUT it takes 5-7 years under perfect

conditions to develop academic language.

(Thomas & Collier)


What EAL services will be provided?

Primary School EAL Programme

3 Periods: in-class lesson support (co-teaching)

3 Periods: small group lessons in EAL classroom

Instead of Mandarin class; this is the EAL students’ foreign language.

Assessments, Testing, Extra Academic Support

Secondary School EAL Programme

3 to 6 Periods: “pull out” lessons in EAL classroom

Instead of Mandarin and/or Myanmar class; this is the EAL students’ foreign language.

3 to 6 Periods: “push-in” lesson support (co-teaching)

Assessments, Testing, Extra Academic Support

Indirect Services:

Students benefit from teachers working together and additional guidance from the EAL department.


What tests do we use?

WIDA Test

Levels 1-6 “Can Do”

Teacher Referrals & Primary SAT class grades

What is the Curriculum?

Secondary Curriculum:

Reading, Writing, Speaking, Listening – Subject/Academic Skills

Support

Primary Curriculum:

Jolly Phonics (R-Y2), Oxford Reading Tree, Academic Skills Support


More About the WIDA Test

The WIDA is an internationally recognised, standardised test

which checks students’ abilities in speaking, listening, writing,

and reading: how well can your children perform in these 4

language skills? Can they do well at the appropriate Year

level?


The WIDA “Can Do” Descriptors



WIDA

Performance

Levels

EAL Entry Criteria

If a class teacher is concerned about the English progress of

one of their students, the following procedure is followed:

The class teacher refers the student to the EAL department.

The EAL department administers a WIDA test with the

student.

If they score below a level 4 for Primary or Level 5 for

Secondary in all, or nearly all, language skill areas.

(Speaking, Listening, Writing and Reading), the EAL

department will accept the student onto the EAL programme.


Primary EAL Exit Criteria The following criteria are used for deciding when a primary student is

ready to discontinue EAL support:

The student’s scores on the WIDA assessment are all, or nearly all,

on a level 4, in all four language skill areas. (Speaking, Listening,

Writing and Reading)

The SAT test is within grade level

The two last “Whole School Writing Assessments” and “Big Write” are

within grade levels, NC levels.

The student’s reading level is within the grade-level or age level

range, as indicated by ORT or A-Z reading assessments.

All, or nearly all, grade-level assessments and reporting documents

(both formal and informal) show that the student is working

confidently and competently at grade level.

EAL teacher, class teacher and parents agree that the student should

leave EAL classes.


Secondary EAL Exit Criteria

The following criteria are used for deciding when a secondary student is

ready to discontinue EAL support:

• The student's reading level is at grade level or above, as indicated by

standardized reading assessments (e.g., Tests of Reading

Comprehension, Diagnostic Reading Assessment)

• The WIDA Model test results or proficiency level designations (1-6)

show the KS3 student is at least at the Bridging level (5) in all four

language skills areas, and the KS4 student, at the Reaching level (6).

• All grade-level assessments and reporting documents (both formal

and informal) show the student is working confidently and

competitively at grade level.

• The student's core content teachers agree that the student is able to

succeed in mainstream classes without further language or academic

support as indicated on the Secondary School EAL Exit Form.


Referrals and Reports

MISY School Mission Statement

“To provide students with the knowledge,

skills and dispositions to reach their

individual potential to make positive

contributions to Myanmar and the wider

world.”


eal @ misy...show the ks3 student is at least at the bridging level (5) in all four language skills...

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