Dual language books and supporting EAL pupils
The term English as an Additional Language (EAL) is commonly used in schools to describe children who speak one or more other languages at home, and who are learning much of their English in an educational setting.
Currently one in five pupils in primary schools in England is learning English as an additional language.
Supporting EAL pupils is complex and the needs of pupils may vary widely, as may the languages you need to cover.
Ideally books for EAL pupils should have simple narratives, characters pupils can relate to, and vibrant illustrations to help explain the story behind the text. Texts chosen should focus on reading for meaning – nonsense words and idioms are not helpful to EAL readers as they are unlikely to have the contextual understanding to support meaning.
Providing EAL readers with the right books can be the key to their enjoyment of learning a new language, and that's why we've also pulled together a selection of recommended reading for pleasure titles for EAL pupils at EYFS, KS1 and KS2. Browse these recommendations from our team below.
Alternatively, if you require inclusive dual language texts to help a pupil celebrate both of the languages they are learning, or you have a new arrival who has very little English, our team are here to help. If you're looking to support pupils with texts in a language other than English, you can see a range of titles here. Or, email us directly at hello@peters.co.uk.