Supporting English language learners

As mobility increases the number of 'English as an Additional Language' (EAL) students in Australian schools continues to grow, and so does the need for language provisions that value the cultural and linguistic heritage of EAL students. Although Australian schools have historically favoured assimilation into the English language, there is increasing recognition that EAL students should be nurtured rather than assimilated into English at the expense of their mother tongue. The benefits of language retention are widely documented, with pluralist practices demonstrating increased cognitive and psychosocial capabilities in English language learners. [Author abstract]