Virtual Learning Network

The only thing missing from Learning through Talk is guidance with practical tasks that can be used across the curriculum to build oral competence. This is where the knowledge of the strategies on the ESOL Online teaching strategies page can be...

Many teachers struggle with how to integrate focused and strategically designed oral language tasks across the curriculum. My belief is that oral language should be an integral part of all learning areas and that we need to deliberately structure...

Oral language In her Week 6 Literacy Online Weekly Update Sue Bridges challenged us about how we teach oral language. Sue outlined why oral language is important and stressed that oral language should be explicitly taught at all...

In today’s update I am focusing on how students who speak a language other than English transition into primary school and on what more we can be doing as a school to help these students to become fully bi/multi lingual. Transitions One...

 This conversation has been sparked by a paper I read this morning published by TESOL International which looks at The Preparation of the ESL Educator in the Era of College- and Career-Readiness Standards. It is a summary of a meeting of...

Why do these young people and families feel it necessary to change their names (and by default, identities)? Rather, schools have a responsibility to speak out a message of encouragement to families to maintain their names, their identities, their...

Talofa lava! I can’t believe how fast February is disappearing. At this time of year classroom teachers often have questions on how they can best support ELLs in their classroom, so this is the focus of today’s update. I am also...

Within the word we find two dimensions, reflection and action, in such radical interaction that if one is sacrificed -- even in part -- the other immediately suffers . . .

Language learning and the summer slide With the summer holidays fast approaching now might be a good time to put in place some strategies to support your students to maintain or even grow their level of English over the holiday period. Many of...

The Inclusive Education TKI website was developed earlier this year to support teachers to design teaching programmes that support the creation and development of an inclusive culture that recognises and meets the needs of all students. For...

Teachers should: Encourage wide reading at an independent reading level Raise word consciousness to develop a love of learning and an interest in vocabulary Explicitly teach word meanings in understandable language Teach a range of word learning...

Malo Ni, TESSOL Scholarship reminder The closing date for  the TESSOL Scholarships is this Friday 30th October.  I know the thought of studying after work can be daunting but my own personal experience was that the...

Malo Ni Tokelau Language Week/Te Vaiaho o te Gagana Tokelau is being held from Sunday 25 October to Saturday 31 October. I have gathered some useful resources and background information for you all to use. Tokelauans in New Zealand 2013...

Work with parents so that they understand that our National Standards are expectations for native speakers of English and therefore if their child is an English language learner we would expect (as should they) that their child will be well below...

Diwali, also known as the Festival of Lights, marks the beginning of the Hindu New Year. It celebrates the triumph of light over darkness and the renewal of life. Celebrations can last for about five days and it is celebrated by people in India and...

Fakaalofa lahi atu Welcome back to school and to the start Niuean language week which takes place from 11-18 October.  Reporting and Evaluating English language learners  I have loved the rich discussion that has taken place over...

This post looks at professional learning opportunities and great links and readings to explore during the holiday period.  International Education qualification opportunity You may also be interested in a new online postgraduate-level...

In this update I want to focus on Refugee background students and how we can support students who have experienced trauma, violence and chronic stress in their lives.  “All refugees have suffered grief and loss, if only over the loss of...

Using photographs for teaching language The digital age has made taking and sharing photos easier than ever before. We have easy access to many images which are free to use and download. Teachers have long used photos and pictures for various...

Hi everyone  In this update I want us to explore the recently updated esolonline Impact section. As mentioned last week this week is Tongan Language Week, The theme for this year is; “Fakakoloa Aotearoa ‘aki’ a e...