Student’s work page: http://ontheroad.northantsstudycentres.org/english-as-an-additional-language/eal-students-work/
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Northants Study Centres’ project team will be running an English as Additional Language (EAL) summer school in August 2009. It is aimed at year 7/8/9 students who are ‘new arrivals’ into the country and who have started school in the year 08-09. We have pupils attending from Unity College, from different counties, speaking 6 languages between them.
Induction session, 13.7.09
In order to get to know each other, the group asked and answered questions in pairs about their favourite foods, sports, colours, films and music. They were asked to report back to the group in order to work on their speaking and listening skills.
Next we did group juggling, a good way to get to know names. Eventually, after much practise, the balls were flying round the circle fairly accurately. We ignored the rain and had a laugh at our questionable throwing techniques.
Next was ‘player maths cards’ using the Steelbacks squad numbers. Listening skills are key here and the youngsters worked well together to make the equations. They mastered the maths easily, and got used to the English language function words.
A brief tour of the cricket club was next and the sun finally came out. The group were all interested to see the different facilities and asked lots of cricket related questions.
Back in the centre, we had a go at ‘cricket photos and captions’ activity. Individuals contributed their ideas about the photos shown (of batters and bowlers in action) and were asked to write words and phrases on the board. The rest of the group helped turn these into sentences. We had some great descriptive work, with everyone helping each other to refine the sentences grammar and content. Afterwards, the children worked in pairs to write their own sentences around the cricket players’ photos. The staff tried to bring out the students’ English in fun and interesting ways.
The session was enjoyed by staff and students alike. Thanks to Unity staff Mrs. Evelyn and Mr. Bejm for attending along with the children, and Mrs. Wanjohi for organising the group. Study Centre staff were Anna Letts, Vicky Campkin, Helena Weedon. Allison Samaloussi from NCC’s Race Equality team assisted Anna in leading the session.
The summer challenge is due to run August 17-21st, 24-28th, Monday-Friday 10-3pm.
Summer Challenge:
Here is an outline of what we hope to achieve:
- To use Northants Study Centres Playing for Success ethos, activities and ideas to engage and motivate KS3 EAL ‘new arrivals’ students.
- To use and embed key language through sports based and topic based activities.
- To improve key skills through using sport based literacy and numeracy activities.
- To improve confidence and self-esteem.
Course details:
There will be 2 weeks of Summer Challenge, based at the Steelbacks Study Centre, Northants County Cricket Club.
A twilight taster session will be held in the last week of the summer term, to introduce students to PfS and the Study Centre.
3 follow up ‘top-up’ days are planned during half term breaks in Autumn 2009, Spring 2010, Summer 2010.
Curriculum
- PfS lessons with a particular emphasis on language. The PfS literacy and numeracy skills are the starting point.
- Speaking, listening and understanding is the focus.
Race and Equaltiy Team
We are working in partnership with the Race and Equality Team, Linda Green and Allison Samaloussi. This team support schools where race, language, culture or lifestyle can impede successful reintegration to school.
The Council works with schools to raise the attainment of minority ethnic pupils at risk of under-achievement, pupils for whom English is an Additional Language (EAL), Travellers, Asylum seekers and refugees.
The Race Equality Team, The Waendel Centre, 86 Stanley Road, Wellingborough, Northamptonshire NN8 1DY. Tel: 01933 272462 Fax: 01933 272464
- A team of specialist teachers, bilingual workers, education liaison officers and consultants working to raise the attainment of ethnic minority pupils at risk of underachievement through buy-back from schools for pupil support and in service training.
- A resource loans service to support and promote cultural diversity in the curriculum and specialist books and materials to support schools in meeting the learning needs of EAL pupil
Associated links
http://www.northamptonshire.gov.uk/Community/Social/RES.htm
http://www.wellingboroughrec.org.uk/index.asp
http://www.northamptonshire.gov.uk/Learning/Parents/language.htm
http://www.equalityhumanrights.com/en/Pages/default.aspx
http://www.northamptonshire.gov.uk/Community/Social/home.htm
EAL Resource links
http://www.rbkc.gov.uk/englishadditionallanguage/general/lgfl_resources.asp
http://www.rbkc.gov.uk/englishadditionallanguage/general/default.asp
http://www.teachernet.gov.uk/teachingandlearning/library/EALteaching/
http://www.literacytrust.org.uk/Database/EALres.html
http://www.standards.dfes.gov.uk/primary/publications/inclusion/newarrivals/1160063
EVALUATIONS
Here is what the students, parents and staff thought, their evaluations and comments:
EAL summer challenge evaluation: RESULTS
(12 completed)
1. Has the summer challenge helped you improve your skills in these areas? (tick as many as apply)
|
Get better at writing. |
8 |
|
Get better at reading. |
8 |
|
Get better at speaking |
10 |
|
Get better at listening |
8 |
|
Be more confident with my English. |
11 |
|
ICT |
11 |
|
Practical Sport
|
10 |
|
Be more confident generally, better self esteem |
7 |
|
Making new friends |
11 |
|
Working in groups |
11 |
2. Did you enjoy the summer challenge lessons? Yes: 12 No: 0
What did you enjoy the most in these lessons?
- I liked working on the computers and the activities on the field.
- ICT
- I enjoyed everything because it was fun.
- Laptops and doing sport! (Robolab)
- Practical sport
- Sport
- I enjoyed all the lessons
- Sports
- Having lots of fun!
- I like fun activities, it was very good, especially the sport and ICT. Robolab as well.
- I enjoyed the sports and made new friends
3. Have you learnt anything new in these lessons? Yes: 11 No: 1
What, for example?
- I learnt so much, some thing like when we played some games on the field.
- About cricket and apostrophes and where to put them.
- Football skills, IT skills and English
- Different computer websites
- Cricket skills
- Computer programs
- Computers
- To work on laptops, new words, how to play football
- About cricket and apostrophes
- The computers
4. Has learning through sport helped you with your English skills? Yes: 11 No: 1
How?
- Because I like sport and it is more fun.
- Good football and easy for English.
- By talking to each other
- Because of the Kung-fu punctuation
- By talking
- Hardly speaking any slang
- Art, making stuff
- Helped me learn football words
- Speaking a lot in the sports
- We played lots of games
5. Tick the words that describe how you think taking part in the summer challenge has been good for you.
|
Interesting |
10 |
Challenging |
10 |
|
Friendly |
9 |
Educational |
9 |
|
Helpful |
11 |
Useful |
8 |
|
Enjoyable |
10 |
Encouraging |
8 |
7. Write a comment to sum up what you thought about the summer challenge.
- I like this summer school because I learnt so much and had fun.
- Good people
- I thought it was fantabulous
- I love everything about it, the lessons, sport, laptops, tour
- Fun and enjoyable
- Fun, excellent, I want to do it next year
- It was excellent and I want to come here again
- I met a lot of people and it was very interesting
- It was really fun, I liked it very much
- I liked the challenge with memory (foods), it was cool, very good, helpful and useful.
- The teachers helped me when I needed help and explained things to me.
8. How could we improve this experience?
- Try another club.
- I think it should stay like this.
- More people! I want to carry on with the same kids and same staff please
- Have sports everyday and trips. I want to carry on every year with the same tutors and coach
- Keep the same people
- More sports and games
- A bit more sport and games
- No comment
- More trips. I would like to carry on every year with the same people.
- I think it’s supposed to stay like it is.
- Learn more English
Parents/Carers feedback form – RESULTS
(8 completed)
Please can you write some comments about your child at the EAL Summer School at the Steelbacks.
Did your child enjoy the Summer School and why?
- Because of free time during the holidays
- My son enjoyed this summer school, he did lots of work and nice pictures
- Yes, she thought it was very enjoyable and it helped her spend her time, and not get bored at home
- She enjoyed everything in summer school and especially because of the people there
- My daughter enjoyed everything in summer school because the teacher’s learning was good.
- Both my son and daughter enjoyed this school because they learnt so much English and played many games.
- Yes he has enjoyed the variety of activities
- Yes she did enjoy herself at summer school because it was fun
What has your child learnt at Summer School? (please give an example)
- English grammar and phonetics
- Because he was playing a lot of speaking games
- She has learnt some English and how to speak more confidently
- Lots of sports skills like rugby, cricket and football
- My daughter has got very good football skills now and improved her learning for everything.
- They both learnt to speak and write in English, they learnt how to work on the computers
- Maths, English and various sports activities.
- She learned some new words which she didn’t know about before.
Has your child’s English improved because of Summer School? If so how?
- My son improved his pronunciation and spelling, and learned how to play cricket
- He learnt lots of things, he does better in computers now and lots of good work
- Yes and no, we as parents haven’t seen much of a change.
- She was very good at English from the beginning
- Her English has always been beautiful.
- Yes, they have because when we go into town, some people think they speak very good English.
- It is difficult to assess how far it has improved.
- Yes her English improved because at summer school, everyday was different by learning new things.
Any other comments please.
- My son is talking better in English now and saying a lot of English words.
- My daughter wants summer school to continue
- My daughters want the same tutors again
- She and us would want the summer school to carry on.
- I am very happy when my son and daughter go to this school, because they learn so much English.
- Perhaps if this kind of extended activities carried on throughout the school curricular year, it would boost their confidence and increase the level of interest in achievement.
- I am very happy because my daughter enjoyed summer school.
Staff feedback comments – EAL summer school
The EAL Summer School is going very well. I went in for the first 2 days and was very pleased with everything; great Staff and lots of learning through fun activities. I’m sure the pupils will benefit greatly, both academically and socially.
Best wishes, Allison (RET)
Dear Anna
Thank you very much for your comments, it was a pleasure to help you. So glad it was so successful for you all and the students enjoyed themselves so much.
Best wishes
Merle (RET)
I was very impressed when I came down yesterday – lots of
good work going on and the students all seemed to be enjoying themselves.
Fantastic
Val Sudlow
Northants Study Centres, Centre Manager – Projects
Hi Anna, thanks for the mention, as ever it was a pleasure to be of assistance to you.
Regards
Gordon
Kis-Coaches
Really pleased it went well
Lynda Green
County Manager
Children and Young People’s Service
Ethnic Minority Achievement and Race Equality
Anna,
Just a short note to say thank you for letting me visit the Summer School yesterday. I very much enjoyed the lively atmosphere coupled with the focus on fun learning. Great effort!
Cheers,
Peter Ford
Centre Manager
Silverstone Study Centre
I think you all have done a fantastic job with the summer school and that the pupils have benefitted a great deal from it.
Allison (RET)
