Resources for EAL/D students
The following is a list of resources to help you build your reading, writing, listening and speaking skills in English.
Reading:
It is important to practice your sight-words and spelling words. Your teachers and parents/ guardians will help you to learn you sight-words at school and at home, however, there are many fun apps that you can use to learn your sight-words and spelling words.
- Reading Eggs https://readingeggs.com.au/gaw/ga4-br?gclid=CjwKCAjw26H3BRB2EiwAy32zhbOsruG-SQiHrw2H4hYSi3AdWpr47kl-wRVGW_Sy8mMmPhGm5gFfZRoCtpwQAvD_BwE: a free and fun interactive app that provides a number of motivational words association games and activities to build vocabulary.
- Teach Your Moster to read https://www.teachyourmonstertoread.com/accounts/sign_in: A free game split into 3 levels to develop your word asosiation, phonemic awarness and sentence structure skills.
- BorrowBox borrowbox.com: is the free online Brisbane City Council Library app that has thousands of box to read. Practice your reading at home and at school by reading out loud to your friends and family.
Writing:
Writing for our own enjoyment is important it is a way to communicate our thoughts and ideas. To develop your writing skills use the following techniques and resources.
- To practice your writing try writing a short story or persuasive text on a topic you like. Then have your teacher, friends or parents/ guardians read it.
- When you are happy with your story publish it on Storybird https://www.storybird.com/. Storybird is a free online website for kids, you can read other peoples stories and write your own
- When your writing your story make sure you use the dictionary to look up words you don’t know
- Wordreference https://www.wordreference.com/
- Collins Dictionary https://www.collinsdictionary.com/
- Cambridge Dictionary https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/
Listening:
Listening is an important skill it is how we learn to understand what somebody is saying and a way for us to interact with our teachers, friends and family. The following resources are ways that you can practice and improve your listening skills.
- Listen and read along to stories you know in your first language. Many traditional stories have been translated and made into short videos to watch online. The Youtube Channel MagicBox English stories provides the English translation of traditional stories. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCcBXr47HBrCsKplyw6iKf3g.
- Here is a video of The Adventures of Tenali Raman a traditional Indian story
Speaking:
It is important we develop our verbal communication skills in English as it is how we predominantly communicate with our teachers and friends at school. By speaking to our friends in English we can develop our speaking skills. Here is a short video that outlines our to start a conversation with native English speakers and how to improve your vocabulary:
English Speaking Students:
It is important you help and support your friends who are learning English as an additional language or dialect. Ensure you include them in group discussions in class and invite them to play in the play ground. Clearly explain how to play a game and be patient with them as they try to understand what you are saying.
Support for Refugee and Aboriginal and Tori Strait Islander Students:
If you need support discussing difficult topics or are struggling with mental health the Victorian Government Department of Education https://www.education.vic.gov.au/school/teachers/support/diversity/eal/Pages/ealsupportrefugee.aspx outlines a number of support services available. Alternatively, you can speak to your school guidance councillor, teacher, or a trusted adult.
Learning for EAL/D Communities 