EAL/D Learning through the Arts

Arts pedagogy is rich in language and literacy engagement and, therefore ideal to support EAL/D (English as an Additional Language/Dialect) learners as they develop their reading, writing speaking and listening skills. This series draws on Drama and Visual Arts based activities to demonstrate ways to enhance students’ confidence when learning English. The activities also showcase creative ways to encourage students’ collaborative skills, while developing expression and fostering sense of belonging in the Australian classroom. This series is designed for primary and high school teachers working in culturally and linguistically diverse contexts, as well as EAL/D teachers or anyone who wants to expand their literacy repertoire to include creative ways of interacting in the classroom. This series draws on a research project conducted in Intensive English Centres in NSW that found that arts pedagogies are useful for students who are transitioning to mainstream classrooms, or to the workplace or further learning. These workshops will be practical, providing numerous activities that teachers can implement in their classroom, adapting each strategy to their own year level or stage. Participants do not require any previous experience in Creative Arts education.

(Please note catering will be provided at each session)

Session 1: Monday 17 June, 4:00pm - 7:00pm

Arts pedagogy for EAL/D development

In this session participants try accessible Drama and Visual Arts activities that encourage vocabulary development, storytelling and embodied learning. Workshop leaders will discuss arts-based research as week as strategies to adapt activities so that teachers feel comfortable implementing arts approaches in their own context.

Session 2 - Monday 1 July, 4:00pm - 7:00pm

Fostering inclusion and belonging for EAL/D students using the arts

The arts are also effective at breaking down barriers between students from different language and cultural groups, as well as fostering a sense of belonging and inclusion in the school community. This session will demonstrate activities that promote intercultural understanding in the classroom. The specific needs of EAL/D students will be explored, as will strategies that help assist their transition to mainstream classrooms.

Host or Publisher Western Sydney University