An information evening for parents at Panaga School developing an
understanding of EAL and MT
Brainteasers!
• How many languages are spoken on the island of Borneo?
• How many languages are spoken in THE WORLD?
Languages at Panaga-can you spot yours?
Arabic, Indonesian,Bahasa Melayu,Tamil, Bengali, Spanish,Hindi,Urdu,Telugu,German, Dutch, English, Mandarin, Russian, French, Chinese, Marathi, Assamese, Visayan, Tagalog,Thai, Malayalam,Turkish,Konrani, Swahili, Yoruba,Norwegian,Polish,Kannada
Panaga School Nationalities
PANAGA SCHOOL NATIONALITY
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
AM
ER
ICA
N
AR
GE
NT
INA
AU
ST
RA
LIA
N
BR
AZ
ILIA
N
BR
ITIS
H
BE
LGIA
N
BE
LGIU
M
CA
NA
DIA
N
CH
INE
SE
CO
LOM
BIA
N
DU
TC
H
EG
YP
TIA
N
FIL
IPIN
O
FR
EN
CH
IND
IAN
IND
ON
ES
IAN
IRA
NIA
N
IRIS
H
JAM
AIC
AN
MA
LAY
SIA
N
ME
XIC
AN
N. Z
EA
LAN
DE
R
NIG
ER
IAN
GE
RM
AN
OM
AN
I
PA
KIS
TA
NI
PE
RU
VIA
N
PO
LIS
H
SC
OT
TIS
H
SIN
GA
PO
RE
AN
SW
ED
EN
SY
RIA
N
TU
RK
ISH
TR
INID
AD
VE
NE
ZU
ELA
N
ITA
LIA
N
RU
SS
IAN
TH
AIL
AN
D
NO
RW
EG
IAN
PO
RT
UG
UE
SE
NATIONALITIES
NO
. OF
CH
ILD
RE
N
Series1
Support your child’s mother tongue!
• What does ‘mother tongue’ mean to you?
Importance of Mother Tongue
• Part of the roots of your children; cultural identity
• Link to family, friends and country
• Necessary for children to reintegrate into their home country, national school or university
Role mother tongue plays in educational development?
There are 4 steps according to Prof. Jim Cummins, leading researcher in second language acquisition, Ontario University
1.Bilingual learners are the best learners!
• By learning two or more languages children gain a greater understanding of how language works
• Knowledge and skills transfer across two languages (review weekly learning targets)
• Develop greater flexibility in thinking skills across subjects, due to processing of information through 2 different languages.
2. A strong supported mother tongue does not hurt children learning English
• Parents worry that being bilingual will hinder their child’s progress but these fears are ungrounded.
• Sometimes they mix languages, but this gets sorted out later.
3.Developing literacy in your MT is an efficient means of developing literacy in
second language
• accelerates the development of reading ability in second language
• literacy in MT transfers into the second language, even when writing signs are different
• provides knowledge of the world and helps with school
How parents can support?
Mother Tongue at home: –Decide on a family language policy –Reading (have a diverse library), videos,
games, friends…aim to be biliterate not just bilingual
–Visit home country for extended holidays
–Have lots of visitors from home!–Support IPC in MT with research and
discussion
4.Mother tongue is fragile and easily lost in early years of school
• Children pick up ‘playground English’ really quickly
BUT• Children can lose their mother tongue as
quickly• Extent and rapidity of language loss will vary
according to how much it is used• Can lose within 2-3 years of starting school-
retain receptive skills but respond in English to peers and parents
At school:
• Books for library; donation• Come in and read story or teach
us some songs!• Share your festivals• Oral and written translations• Language of the month• Shell Educational Services may
offer an allowance enabling the employment of MT teacher.
EAL at Panaga School
• Withdrawal and in-class support• Survival language!• Support with developing vocabulary linked to
other school subjects• Speaking and listening skills• Development of literacy skills (reading and
writing)
How can you help your child at home
to develop their English skills?
Helping with EAL at home.
• Have a family rule of when to speak English (car, restaurant, shop, beach?)
• Radio, television, films, books, music and family games.
• Label everyday objects in both languages around home.
• Play dates – organize through parent representatives.
Conclusion
Let’s work together to develop your child’s language learning.
We need you to support your child’s mother tongue and EAL!
References
• Bilingual Children’s Mother Tongue: Why is it important for Education
Children's Mother Tongue: Why Is It Important http://www.iteachilearn.com/cummins/mother.htm
• Krashen Stephen-http://www.sdkrashen.com/main.php3• Website with a large number of books on bilingualism
www.multilingual-matters• Pollock and Van Reken, (2001) Third Culture Kids• Cunningham-Andersson, (2008) Growing up with two
languages, a practical guide• Colin Baker, (2004)A parents’ and teachers’ guide to
bilingualism