EAL/D at Annandale Public School
EAL/D (English as an Additional Language or Dialect) learners are students whose first language is a language or dialect other than Standard Australian English and who require additional support to assist them to develop English language proficiency. Learning English is essential for success at school and further education, training and employment for students who speak a language other than English as their first language.
EAL/D students have a diverse range of backgrounds and English language learning needs. EAL/D students enter school with varying levels of prior education and knowledge of English. Some are born in Australia; others have recently arrived as permanent or temporary migrants, refugees or international students. Students that are Newly Arrived from overseas and require intensive English language support attract additional funding for this purpose from the NSW Department of Education.
EAL/D students need to simultaneously learn English, learn in English and learn about English in order to successfully participate in informal social interactions as well as more formal and academic contexts. Our EAL/D program caters for this diverse range of English language learning needs of all EAL/D students.
Currently there are four students recognised as New Arrivals and 20% of the total school enrolments have languages other than English in their family backgrounds. It is exciting to be part of a multicultural community, to have an opportunity to learn and understand more about other cultures and to become better equipped to assimilate into a diverse and connected community.
The Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Program has been a wonderful opportunity for parents and friends to become involved in our children's education and to know more about our school and develop friends and acquaintances of other cultural backgrounds.
These are photographs of parents and students helping in the Learning Garden and enjoying the opportunity to feel part of the school community and where some people can speak languages other than English.