English as a Second Language

Students learning English as a Second Language (ESL) constitute a significant proportion of students in Victorian government schools, making up around 15% of all students in metropolitan schools.

On arrival in Australia, ESL learners are able to access the New Arrivals Program which provides intensive full-time programs or targeted support to assist with the initial stages of learning English. The learning of English by ESL students is further supported by ESL programs in mainstream schools.

A range of professional learning is conducted in the Western Metropolitan Region on ESL. The aim of ESL professional learning programs is to develop teachers’ understanding of the central role that language plays in learning and to develop teaching practices which can be used across the curriculum to address the language-related needs of ESL students in an explicit manner. A whole-school approach to addressing the learning needs of ESL students is promoted.

• Developing Effective ESL Programs (DEEP) in Primary Schools: a three day program specifically designed for primary teachers who have ESL students in their mainstream classes. The program includes identifying students needing support, teaching and learning strategies, and assessment and monitoring of ESL students.
• ESL in the Mainstream: a program providing schools with the opportunity to train mainstream classroom teachers in the methodology of teaching ESL and assists schools with the implementation of an ESL whole school approach to supporting ESL and newly arrived refugee students.

More information

For more information, contact our ESL Project Officer, Giuliana Mecoli on (03) 9291 6500.

For further information for schools, teachers and parents of ESL students, see: English as a Second Language