Work in progress!

The EAL Team is working on a new Google EAL Highland Website. It is still a work in progress but all the main information is there and, from now on, where all updates will be added.

While this is happening (it is a big job) the blog is still active but might be a bit neglected. If you can’t find what you are looking for on either site, or a resource is not available, or a link not working,  please contact the team (CONTACT US.)

English as an Additional Language

Welcome to the Highland Council’s EAL website, where you’ll find resources to help support your bilingual learners. These include:

Looking for something specific? Try using the “Filter our Resources” widget at the top of the right sidebar →

Or try one of the specific links under the Language, School, or Purpose headings in the left sidebar ←

Or use the search tool at the top right of the BLOG →

If you still can’t find what you’re looking for, please feel free to contact us.

Digital Translation Tools for EAL Learners                                                    

Date: 27/2/24

Please book through Highland CPD

Target Group – Upper Primary & Secondary PSAs, ASNTs and Class Teachers

Location: Online

Time: 4pm to 5.30pm

Aim – To upskill staff in digital translation tools to support EAL pupils.

Content – During this training we will cover how to use key digital tools which are accessible to pupils on their Chromebooks such as Google Translate, Read & Write and OrbitNote.  There will be opportunities to practise using these tools during the session.

Notes: participants will be given the opportunity to try out the tools so please be logged into your school Google account.

 This training will be recorded and be available on the EAL Highland website after the event.

 

Read and Write for Google Chrome

Robert Quiggly and Tania Mackie present a Read and Write training (including new features.)  Read and Write is a fantastic program on Google for EAL learners (and others.) It has many tools to aid reading and writing, including; predictive text, translate, speak-to-text, picture dictionary, and many more.

Click here to watch the training.

Bilingual Glossaries

This website has a large number of bilingual glossaries for EAL  pupils to use in class to support their learning. They are available in all these languages and for a number of secondary subjects.

Ririro (audio stories in other languages)

It is Ririro’s mission to give all children in the world free access to a variety of stories. The stories can be read, downloaded and printed online and cover a wide range of topics, including animals, fantasy, science, history, diverse cultures and much more.

The stories can be read in English, Polish, Spanish, Arabic and others. (Please note that Russian and  Ukrainian are NOT available. )

Click here to be taken to the Ririro website.

Grammarly App/extension

The  Grammarly App has now been pushed out to the Play Store and can be added to the pupil’s Chromebooks.   It is a useful tool for older and more proficient EAL students to correct written work.  It sits as an extension along the top right in the same way as Google Read & Write etc. https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/grammarly-grammar-checker/kbfnbcaeplbcioakkpcpgfkobkghlhen

New EAL Teachers for Highland

We would like to inform you of some recent changes to the English as an Additional Language Team within our service.

Previously, the remit for the team was area based but this has now changed to a Highland wide service.

Two new members of staff have also been employed until the end of June 2023 (SG funded), and the team now consists of Alison Roy, Jenny Gray, Alison Drummond and Rose Nicholls. Both Alison Drummond and Rose Nicholls, our new members to the team, have been employed primarily to support the Ukrainian refugee pupils. You can find their contact details at: https://www.highland.gov.uk/info/886/schools_-_additional_support_needs/39/english_as_an_additional_language

Offline Bilingual Dictionaries for exams/assessments

Inspirationapps.com have bilingual dictionary apps available in 20 different languages.  These are offline, word for word dictionaries which are permitted in exams and assessments if you follow the  guidance from SQA.

Apps can be installed on Chromebooks/phones/i pads from the Apple App Store or from the Google Play Store.

At present the Polish and French apps can be added to a pupils Chromebook. If you need another language please contact the EAL Team. If you pupil’s first language is not available there are other apps available so get in touch.

As with paper dictionaries,  pupils should  only be given the app in assessments if they use bilingual dictionaries for regular  classwork/homework. Some practice in using the app before the assessment/exam is advised.

 

Fluency Tutor

Increase and track pupil’s reading fluency with this easy to use website: Pupils record themselves reading a passage (from a library or create   your own) for you to listen to and assess. Comprehension questions for each passage are also available.

Student Guide to Using Fluency Tutor

Read and Write for Google Chrome-Highland Guidance

Please note: in order to access R&W, staff must ‘sync’ their Chrome accounts in order for the extension to appear.

Follow this link for a guide on how to do this.

Highland Literacy have posted resources page links for Google Read and Write.

This is a great Google extension for EAL learners (and pupils with literacy difficulties) with many tools to support pupils learning, all in one place: a reader,  a translator, a PDF reader/annotator, predictive text and many more.

Follow the link below to discover what they all do.

Supporting Bilingual Learners of English in Highland Schools