Remote Learning Support for Students from EAL/D Backgrounds

This list of resources has been compiled to assist both classroom teachers and EAL/D specialist teachers to provide additional support to students for whom English is an additional language or dialect undertaking remote learning. Resources to facilitate communication with parents/carers, who may have limited English, are also provided.

EAL/D teaching and learning focuses on students learning English in context and across the curriculum so that they acquire the English language skills relevant to each content area. To complement the class program, an additional list of useful resources is provided below. A brief overview is given for each resource and the stage of schooling for which it is designed. The hyperlink to the resource is included.

All resources listed are at no cost unless otherwise indicated. Inclusion in this document does not mean the resource is endorsed by the Association of Independent Schools of NSW. Schools must consider their own context and requirements before choosing to use external websites, online learning platforms and programs.

Be mindful that resources from overseas may not reflect the content of the NSW Syllabus for the Australian Curriculum. Also, the electronic translations to certain languages may be only loose approximations.

For further advice or support, contact Renae Watkins rwatkins@aisnsw.edu.au

Moving to Online Platforms for Students from EAL/D Backgrounds

Useful Sites for Teachers to Support Planning and Delivery

Downloadable and Printable Resources

Useful ‘At Home Learning’ Sites for English Language Learners

Apps and Technology for English Language Learners

Tools for Parent Communication and Support

  Moving to Online Platforms for Students from EAL/D Backgrounds 

Zoom

Function: Translation feature within platform
Zoom has as a transcript and translation feature. The teacher can set up, both a script and audio for a Zoom meeting, so when a student watches a recorded Zoom session the transcript will be available to the student in their preferred language, even though the teacher presented in English. Zoom includes a function where this translated transcript can be read to the student.  Zoom integrates with Canvas. 

Access resource

SeeSaw

Function: Translation feature within platform
Teachers and families can now translate Seesaw content into over 55 languages. If a note, caption, comment, announcement or message is written in a language that is different from the family's first language, a “See Translation” option appears below the post. Tap “See Translation” and Seesaw automatically translates any text into your preferred language. Students do not have access to this feature. Available on all platforms (iOS, Android, Kindle, Web). The site includes set up instructions for families in 10 different languages. 

Access resource

Google Classrooms

Function: Translation, captions and additional supporting features
The Google for Education Teacher Centre has training available. 

Access resource

This includes video instructions on translating Google Classroom using Google Translate Chrome Extension. 

Video

Webinar: Practical Strategies and Resources to Teach K-12 Els Online

Function: Teacher information
An expert EL online educator provides a free 60 minute webinar in which strategies for teaching K-12 EAL/D learners in an online setting are shared and modelled. It includes:

• Technology suggestions for supporting EAL/D learners in online learning

• Practical strategies for online instruction of EAL/D learners

• A Padlet of tools and resources for online content, communicating with families, internet access, and translation.

Access resource / Video



  Useful Sites for Teachers to Support Planning and Delivery

Actively Learn

Stage/Year Level: Stage 2 – Stage 6
Not specific to EAL/D but has texts and videos for English, Science, and HSIE with scaffolds and higher-order questions. It includes translation as well as text-to-speech and integrates with Google Classroom and Canvas. Free for the remainder of the school year.

Access resource

BrainPOP ELL

Stage/Year Level: Primary
BrainPOP ELL has resources and lesson plans sorted into three levels. Lessons are comprised of short, animated movies as well as games, quizzes and interactive features. Students practise the four principle language skills: listening, speaking, reading and writing.

Access resource 

Colorín Colorado

Stage/Year Level: All
Colorín Colorado offers resources for English Language Learners (ELLs) that are age specific. Content is organised by grade but some may be adaptable for younger or older students. Each section contains a variety of resources, including articles, videos, webcasts, tip sheets, and recommended websites for families that can be used for distance learning with English learners.

Access resource

EAL Hub

Stage/Year Level: Primary
Has assessment and teaching resources. UK based.
Cost. UK ₤20 pounds for individual subscription

Access resource

EAL Nexus

Stage/Year Level: All
The EAL Nexus website hosts a wide range of resources for teachers, school leaders, EAL/D specialists, students and parents. All EAL Nexus resources are free to access and download for educational purposes. The downloads are available both in Word (so you can adapt them if required) and in PDF (in case you have a version of Word that is incompatible). All resources have teaching notes.

Access resource 

ESL Flow

Stage/Year Level: Stage 3
Lesson topics for beginning EAL/D students generally focus on areas such as family, home life, routines, interests, food, sport, travel, the body and appearance.

Access resource 

ESL Library

Stage/Year Level: All
This resource has lesson plans, online homework and digital activities. Cost: $US 7 per month.

Access resource

Flash Academy

Stage/Year Level: Stage 2 & 3
FlashAcademy® EAL can be used on smartphone, tablet and PC; and teaches English from over 30 different home languages. The resource includes lessons, challenges and games which simultaneously teach and test students. All progress is monitored through a comprehensive teacher dashboard. Some sections cost money.

Access resource

Listening Skills Activity

Stage/Year Level: Secondary
Descriptions of short activities that can be set by teachers for online learning or that EAL/D learners can do independently at home or with their parents.

Access resource



  Downloadable and Printable Resources 

Beginning EAL Secondary

Stage/Year Level: Secondary
The Victorian Department of Education produced four units of work addressing English language survival vocabulary for secondary students.

Access resource

Beginning ESL - Primary

Stage/Year Level: Primary
The Victorian Department of Education produced sixteen units around survival language for primary aged students.

Access resource

Boggleworld ESL

Stage/Year Level: All
This site offers worksheets and teaching activities organised by theme. Downloads offered in a variety of formats including PDF, MS Word, and JPG.

Access resource

ESL at home

Stage/Year Level: ES1 - Stage 4
This site is in English with translations for Spanish, Portuguese, Somali, Arabic, Chinese, French, Urdu and Vietnamese. Activities are offered at three levels of activities, K-2, 3-5, and 6-8 and require only paper and pencil, plus some materials that can commonly be found around the house.

Access resource

New to English

Stage/Year Level: Primary
This UK resources for new arrivals includes printable booklets and activities.

Access resource



  Useful ‘At Home Learning’ Sites for English Language Learners  

ABC Learn English

Stage/Year Level: Secondary
Learn English is part of ABC Education which includes over 4,000 resources mapped to the Australian Curriculum. It provides digital content for beginners to more advanced English as a second language learners. The content is offered in a range of mediums; articles, video and audio content are included. The website is well indexed and easy to search; from grammar to learning tips, from vocabulary to English in Australia.

Access resource

Bitesize

Stage/Year Level: ES1 - Stage 6
The Learn and Revise section of the Bitesize website has lots of online games and activities covering a range of English language skills.

Access resource

BrainPOP ELL / BrainPOP / BrainPOP Jr

Stage/Year Level: Primary / 3-6 / K-3
BrainPOP ELL is an English language instruction site for EAL/D learners of all ages. The lessons are comprised of short, animated movies as well as games, quizzes and interactive features. Students practise the four principle language skills: listening, speaking, reading and writing. Content is aligned to American curriculum. Teachers at closed schools can request free access to the full content at this link. 

Access resource

ESL for Beginners

Stage/Year Level: ES1 - Stage 1
Twelve modules based around simple social and everyday language including greetings and numbers.

Access resource

Games to Learn English

Stage/Year Level: Stage 2-4
Lots of interactive games to learn specific English vocabulary, phrases and spellings.

Access resource

Learn English Kids BBC

Stage/Year Level: ES1 - Stage 3
This site from the British Council offers lots of free online games, songs, stories and activities. It also includes articles and videos for parents to support their children learning English at home. In the Short Stories section, students can listen to a story read to them and print the story out to keep and practice.

Access resource

Picture Dictionary for ESL Beginners

Stage/Year Level: Stage 3 - Stage 6
Picture Dictionary is designed for newly arrived ESL students to use at school and at home see and hear commonly used words with an Australian pronunciation. It aims to improve literacy across the curriculum as a general capability, within the Australian Curriculum. It may be used on a desktop computer or mobile device.

Access resource

Vooks

Stage/Year Level: ES1 - Stage 2
This site offers two weeks of take-home lesson plans with activities and information for parents to support their child. The accompanying stories are narrated with animated illustrations and read-a-long text. Teachers have free access and for parents requiring access the first month is free.

Access resource

We Are Teachers: Authors Online Read Aloud and Activities

Stage/Year Level: All
This site offers a compilation of books read by their authors or famous people reading books. Activities to go along with the books are also included.

Access resource



  Apps and Technology for English Language Learners

Duolingo

Stage/Year Level: All
This American site includes a language-learning website, mobile app, and a digital language-proficiency assessment exam. Whilst the app and the website can be accessed without charge, a fee is required to access the premium service. 

Access resource

Google Translate

Stage/Year Level: All
The Google Translate app can translate dozens of languages into English to be used in all types of activities. Students who have downloaded the app can use it when working on an independent project in or outside the classroom. 

Access resource

Immersive Reader: Translation and Picture Dictionary

Stage/Year Level: All
Developed by Microsoft, this text reading facility can translate text and assist communication with second language learners in up to sixty languages. The Picture Dictionary in Immersive Reader aids reading and comprehension through allowing the student to see a picture and hear a word simultaneously. The student can select a word to see a related picture and hear the word read aloud as many times as necessary. Available in Microsoft Word, OneNote, Outlook, Microsoft Edge and Microsoft Teams. 

Access resource

Verbs Smash

Stage/Year Level: Stage 1 and above; beginner level
This app for ESL beginners covers verbs and basic tenses within a fast game format. Other apps by the same developer, covering other English skills, are available.

Access resource



   Tools for Parent Communication and Support

Class Dojo

Function: Communication and translation
Messaging platform for families and students with translation options.

Access resource

Google Transcribe

Function: Translation
Google Translate app has been used to translate dozens of languages into English, across all types of activities. Now the new Google ‘Transcribe for Android’, delivers a continual, real-time translation of a conversation into eight languages: English, French, German, Hindi, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish and Thai.  With the development of Transcribe, Translate is now capable of translating classroom or conference lectures in real time. 

Access resource

Immersive Reader

Function: Translation
This is a Microsoft text reading facility that can translate text to assist communication with parents and second language learners in up to sixty languages. It is available in Microsoft Word, OneNote, Outlook and Microsoft Teams.

Access resource

Microsoft Translator for Education

Function: Translation
The Translator app enables a live, translated parent-teacher conference. Parents can download the app in advance, scan or enter the conversation code, and translations appear on their device in real-time. Fully translated letters that you can send to parents in their home language informing them how to participate are also provided.

Access resource

Talking Points

Function: Translation
Allows teachers to communicate with parents in their home language. Teachers use a web-browser or mobile app, and families use text messages on their mobile, or a mobile app. Messages are written in English, and parents message back in their own language. Personal mobile numbers are kept private. Over one hundred languages are available. 

Access resource

Inclusion in this list does not mean the website is recommended by The Association of Independent Schools of NSW. 

Schools must consider their own context and requirements before choosing to use external websites, online learning platforms and programs.