Addressing the Needs of English as an Additional Language (EAL) Students in Primary Classrooms
One in four learners in Australian schools come from a home where the main language is not English. This course is designed to provide mainstream primary school teachers with useful knowledge and skills that will help meet the language-related needs of these learners.
Upon successful completion of this course, you will have an increased awareness of the needs of EAL students and how to use the students' home language(s) as a resource. You will also have an increased repertoire of strategies which take into account the EAL students' diverse linguistic and cultural backgrounds and experiences.
Topics covered
- Diversity, literacies, and the primary classroom
- Using EAL learners' home language(s) and experiences as a resource for learning
- Scaffolding, speaking, listening and group work
- Issues and strategies in reading and writing
- Vocabulary and comprehension as key foundational skills
- Building text-based units of work that support EAL students
Presenter
Dr Kylie Bradfield
Lecturer, School of Curriculum Teaching & Inclusive Education
Kylie worked as a classroom teacher and as a Head of Curriculum before beginning work in the tertiary context. She has taught in teacher education since 2009, including time spent in Scotland. Kylie is now a lecturer in primary education at Monash University, specialising in literacy. Her research is focused on the pedagogical content knowledge for teaching literacy, language, and literature in the primary years. She is fascinated by what teachers do in their literacy classrooms. Kylie also enjoys working as a consultant in the creation of school programs and in providing professional development to teachers.
Duration
2 days at Clayton Campus (9.30am - 3.00pm), with one week in between
Independent study: An additional four hours of online activities / independent study
Cost 2026
$900 incl. GST
Date and Time
| Number of Sessions and Day | Dates | Time | Delivery mode |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 X Thursdays | 6 and 13 August 2026 | 9.30am - 3.00pm | Face to face at Monash University Clayton Campus |
Prerequisites
This course is designed for all mainstream primary teachers who have EAL students in their classes.
Assessment
There is no assessment associated with this program.
Recognition
This course references the following Australian Professional Standards for Teachers (APST): 1, 2, 3 and 6.
You will receive a Certificate of Completion from the Faculty of Education, Monash University.