My chosen priority addressed in this research essay will focus on diverse-learners and in particular students for whom English is an additional-language or dialect (EAL/D-learners), as they form a significant group in Victorian-government-schools and represent 13 per cent of all students, according to Victoria-State-Government. Department of Education and Training (DET) in Victoria focuses on diversity by recognising that ‘Every Victorian student is unique, bringing a diversity of experiences, values, talents, attitudes, abilities, aspirations and needs.’ Through this research essay, I aim to develop my knowledge and understanding of EAL learner needs in educational context and its recognition in various key driver policies …show more content…
Government schools now provide intensive English language programs for newly arrived students, with targeted funding given to schools for students for up to five years. Whereas the Catholic sector provides targeted support for EAL learners, with schools receiving funding that takes into account the level of EAL enrolments, and the independent sector provides funds to schools through the Australian Government’s Literacy, Numeracy and Special Learning Needs, and New Arrivals Programs. Many schools which have been educating EAL learners for decades have EAL provision embedded in their curriculum.
Therefore, we can state that addressing EAL learner needs has definitely emerged as a national priority among the Australian educational system as there is an increased focus on intercultural understanding, in particular on ensuring standards are stated explicitly around EAL education and achievement standards in Australia, which in turn will not only help learners to improve their English, it will help them to thrive in their settings and beyond and become a contributing citizen to the …show more content…
They presented the same content to students, but with an EAL teacher teaching the EAL learners, she simplified the given task to mainstream class by focussing in particular, on the language demands of the task. She chose resources that reflected the diverse nature of Australian society and are culturally sensitive and resources that were accessible for all students in terms of the language used. While the two teachers used the same teaching space, they used different activities to teach the same content. But the teachers planned collaboratively to ensure that they shared mutual goals, and that all students are covering the basic classroom curriculum. Therefore it became evident that in secondary schools, EAL classes for a subject area may run parallel to, and in place of, mainstream English classes as they work effectively when there are only a few students in the class operating at a particular stage of EAL