English as an Additional Language (EAL) refers to children who are learning English in addition to their first language(s). These children may come from a wide range of linguistic backgrounds and might be fluent in one or several languages other than English. For teachers and support staff, understanding the needs of EAL learners is vital to promoting their development and well-being.
It's important to note that EAL children are not necessarily behind in their cognitive development; they are simply developing proficiency in a second or additional language. With the right support, they can thrive just like their peers.
In Thomond Community College we offer cross-curricular courses which are designed to assist students in their understanding of all subjects. We promote collaboration between departments and collective practice to improve the quality of learning experiences for all our EAL students.
In our lessons we primarily focus on the development of students’ vocabulary range and making links between subjects. This is crucial for them to have the necessary understanding of key topics and how to use these chunks of language in the correct context. Our EAL teachers use an extremely wide range of techniques such as gestures, visual cues, guided reading, online quizzes, simplified texts and project work to encourage communicative learning within our classrooms.