The importance of explicitly teaching language and literacy to English language learners

Freeman, Leonard

Abstract

[Extract] To ensure students learning English as an additional language or dialect (EAL/D) are provided with appropriate instruction, this article advocates the need for teachers to determine their students’ level of English language proficiency and literacy skills and then explicitly teach a program that is tailored to their students’ learning needs. In my work as an English second language consultant and previously as a school principal in the Northern Territory (NT), I have had many discussions with teachers and principals who believe that ‘good literacy teaching practices’ will enable EAL/D learners to successfully access and engage in mainstream teaching and learning programs. However, research has shown that EAL/D learners achieve significantly better outcomes when classroom teaching includes a focus on language learning, as compared to classrooms that make no adjustments for the students’ limited English proficiency (Saunders & Goldenberg, 2010).

Journal

Practical Literacy

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Practical Literacy

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2204-3667

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Australian Literacy Educators' Association

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