“Learning a language, learning through that language and learning about that language.”
(MAK Halliday)
“Learning a language, learning through that language and learning about that language.”
(MAK Halliday)
Currently 11 teachers are conducting an Australian professional development course called Teaching ESL Students in Mainstream Classrooms. This extensive course is widely recognised and promoted in International schools where teachers educate students that have English as an additional language. All teachers at BVIS will get the opportunity to complete this course, which is aimed at teachers of Years 4-13.
Why are we delivering this course to teachers at BVIS?
Our ambition is to develop our teachers’ understanding of the central role that language plays in learning. We are developing teaching practices that can be used across the curriculum to address the language-related needs of EAL students in an explicit manner. The course provides a positive context for teachers to reflect critically and openly on their teaching and to trial suggested strategies through the duration of the course.
The design of Teaching ESL Students in Mainstream Classrooms as a 9-module course of 25 hours means that its content is wide-ranging and comprehensive. It is highly interactive, with teachers often engaged in hands-on activities. The between-module activities allow for a process of trialling strategies which is similar to action research. The between-module readings enable teachers to develop deeper understandings of the language and learning theories presented in modules and to gain additional practical ideas to try in their classrooms.
Overall this course is further improving our teachers’ skillset which will lead to ever-improving outcomes for the education of our students at BVIS.
