Hillcrest High School has an increasing number of students who are new English speakers.

The symbol for ELL students is # on class lists. The symbol for International fee payers is ^. The symbol for Pasifika students is ∂. We try to identify English language learners at point of enrolment. However, please notify the HOD ELL if you have students in your classes whom you think we might have missed and who need English language support.

Cultural Sensitivity – be aware of:

• Culture and Language spoken at home: Students from Asia may be Chinese, Taiwanese, Korean, Japanese, Indian for example. Pasifika includes Tongan, Samoan, Kiribati, Fijian and many more. We have students from the Middle East, eg Egypt, Afghanistan. South American students may be Chilean or Colombian. African students may be Congolese, Eritrean, Somali, Afrikaan. These are just some examples. We have more than 40 languages represented at Hillcrest High School.

• Status of the student: refugee/ migrant/ International fee paying/ exchange students.

• Educational background: literacy in home language, years of schooling in home country, quality of education, style of teaching can be very different.

• Pronunciation of names.

Language Acquisition - all second language learners are trying to:

• Learn another language.

• Learn through another language.

• Learn about another language.

• In the classroom

• Support teacher talk with actions and visuals.

• Write simple instructions and key words on the board. Be specific and clearly indicate change of activity.

• Provide vocabulary lists. Giving key words and concepts to the student to learn ahead of a unit is extremely helpful.

• Give clear directions, and ensure individual understanding.

• Ask the student to repeat back to you, rather than ask ‘Do you understand?

• Make material culturally inclusive.

• Ask the students to relate what they learn to what they already know from previous learning in their own culture.

• Use English subtitles when showing DVD’s or other multimedia.

• Learn a greeting in their language.

• Peer support. Assign a student to assist with a new arrival. This may or may not be someone of the same language.

• Accept that new speakers may need to use their own language in the classroom.

• Listening and speaking precede reading and writing.

• Students who are new arrivals go through a silent stage. This can take up to 6 months.

• Your English Language Learners are assets in your classroom who can provide you and your class with interesting insights and perspectives.

Our ELL staff and English Language Learning Assistants ( ELLASs) are experienced and ESOL trained. We are here to support you and your EL Learners. Ask us for assistance.