We really enjoyed our day at the NALDIC conference.
The keynote address by Li Wei was about Translanguaging and Multicompetence and ways to apply this to practical strategies to support EAL learners was explored.
The learn 100 words in 10 mins workshop was fun! We looked at how there are many similarities between different languages and how we can use these connections to promote the development of English and the EAL learners mother tongue.
We had a very interesting discussion about what the ‘E’ is in ‘EAL’with Tracey Costley form Essex University. We talked about which Englishthe ‘E’ refers to ie standard English , English from the north Singlish or some other English!
The pupil voice presentations were inspiring! It is great to see how young interpreters are helping new English arrivals to settle in and feel welcomed in school.
It was also great to hear from Year 11 students who were reflecting on how they felt when they arrived in school as international new arrivals, the difficulties they faced and what helped them.
Fred Genesse’s keynote focused on how we can take what we have learnt over the past 25 years and use this to make a difference to the support we give to EAL learners. He talked about the importance of promoting the first language and how this helps make connections between the right and left side of the brain.
Our stall was very busy throughout the day and we had the opportunity to talk to teachers from all over the UK and some from international schools overseas.