Print

Language Centre

Purpose of the Language Centre.

 

We intend to help all students attain the highest level of achievement of which they are capable. We appreciate that students with a limited capability in the English language will struggle academically until they have sufficient English to cope with class work. This Centre will support the process of language learning

The Centre will:

  1. Focus on literacy.
  2. Reduce as many “Barriers to Achievement” as is possible. NEG 2: Equality of educational opportunity for all New Zealanders by identifying and removing barriers to achievement”.NEG 6: Success in their learning for those who have special needs by ensuring that they are identified and receive appropriate support.
  3. Utilise the methodologies considered best practice for NESB children.

Structure.

The Centre will be managed by the Language Centre Director – a senior teacher - assisted by Language Aides.

Enrolments.

Entry to the Centre will be decided on a case-by-case basis using enrolment data.

Expectations.

It is the school’s expectations that students on this programme will make rapid progress in the learning of English and in their facility of language.

This expectation of rapid learning is held because:

  1. Eenglish Language Learners [ELLs] students will be accurately assessed and diagnosed in all modes of the English language. This will help to group them for instruction.
  2. The individualised attention the students will get should make a difference.
  3. The investment in professional development of the teacher, the funding of the teacher and the additional learning resources should add quality to the programme.
  4. Many ELLs students have average or above average ability.
  5. The programme will be intensive giving an initial boost to every child.
  6. Oral and Written reporting to parents and stduetns are done at regular intervals.

Timetable [1 period - 45 minutes]                                                                            Foundation Group - 5 periods per week                                                                           Intermediate Group - 4 periods per week                                                                    Advanced group - 3 periods per week.                                                                            Students are withdrawn only during Engllish/Literacy periods so they do not miss out on the core subjects.

Indicators of Success.

The Centre will develop an assessment file on each entrant. This will provide statistical proof of progress made.

ESOL Programme

Intensive English Language Programme is provided for all levels. The ESOL programme encompasses the new English curriculum and the School Overview. This is modified to suit all the ability groups at the Language Centre.

Special intensive programme on Self Pacing Box is run for the Foundation ELLs [Minimal English]. This Self Pacing Box progressess from Box 1 to Box 5 and students are taught very basic English by buddy tutors and teachers. They cover reading, speaking, listening, handwriting, vocabulary and writing sentences; daily from 8.30 - 8.55 a.m, in the School Hall.

EOTC

Students are also taken on educational and cultural trips for 'language learning through experience'.

Reporting.

The teacher will produce a concise report for the Board of Trustees to be presented in the Principal’s Report in the fourth term. This will ensure that the professionals are accountable to the Board for the success of the programme and for their investment in it.

Appraisal.

The teacher will be appraised by a member of the management team who will use material mentioned in the previous paragraph. The students’ results will be one of the most significant measures of the effectiveness of the teacher.

Self Reviews.

The Centre is constantly visited by a variety of professionals from schools, the Ministry of Education and other governmental agencies. We have found that we are regarded as the “best practice” school and people benchmark themselves against us. Workshops are held by the teacher at regular intervals for other schools at the request of Team Solutions. Therefore, we find that we are constantly measuring ourselves against others in a continual self-review. This does not mean that we should be complacent. Our external review in late 2004 by ERO was an outstanding success.

Investment.

The Centre will have resources for 2010. The salaries, wages, professional development are additional to this as are furniture and fittings.

The Centre now consists of four rooms inside the main block – rooms 1, 2, 3 and 14.

Operations.

Close attention must be paid to the daily attendance of students on the programme and concerns in this area must be dealt with promptly. Poor attendance will be a discussion point with parents.

The class teacher must ensure that any child on the programme gets to the Centre punctually. Ideally the child will take the initiative. It is not the task of the Centre’s personnel to walk over the school looking for missing students.

Overview of the ESOL Programme

*  Speaking - presenting speeches, interacting with others, think pair share.                            *  Listening exercises, dictation, audio tapes.                                                                         *  Goal setting/evaluation and interactive methodologies.                                                      *  Reading - Home Reading, Rainbow Reading.                                                                     *  Vocabulary - Essential, Academic, Paul Nations, thematic vocabulary, weekly spelling.          *  Grammar - nouns, adjectives, adverbs, etc.                                                                       *  Topic Work - Business letter wriring, Recount writing, Procedural writing, Persuasive writing etc.                                                                                                                                   *  Sentences - simple, compound, complex sentences.                                                          *  Handwriting and weekly journal writing.

Principal
 
 
 
 
 
Clainy