English as an Additional Language (EAL)

Newly arrived EAL learners can access an intensive full-time program or targeted support to help them in the initial stages of learning English. EAL learners are also supported to learn English in mainstream schools.

On this page

Students

Schools

  • EAL Regional Program Officers – support schools in their region to develop and implement effective EAL programs.
  • Multicultural education aides – support EAL learners to participate in schooling and build communication between schools and families.
  • Interpreting and translating – services are provided free, within guidelines, to government schools.​
  • Panorama- school principals and their delegates can access dashboards which identify EAL and Likely Refugee Background students and show teacher judgement data against the Victorian Curriculum F-10 EAL. Data is drawn from data uploaded to CASES21. A short presentation on how to use the EAL dashboards is available on FUSE: EAL Panorama dashboards.

Teachers

  • EAL Resources Directory diagram is designed to provide a comprehensive overview of the resources provided by the Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority (VCAA) and the Department of Education and Training (DET) to support schools in implementing the Victorian Curriculum F-10 English as an Additional Language (EAL).
  • Resources for EAL teachers – resources to support EAL teachers and schools to plan and deliver effective programs.
  • No English - Don't Panic - a handbook for teachers of EAL in their first few weeks at school in Australia.
  • No English 2 questions and answers – provides answers to some of the concerns primary classroom teachers may have about the English language development of newly arrived EAL learners, and about providing appropriate programs for them.
  • Professional learning – links to providers of professional learning for EAL teachers.​
  • Interactive EAL Effective Practice Guide (pdf - 1.25mb) – a series of videos and discussion prompts highlighting one Victorian secondary school's implementation of an explicit pedagogy for the teaching of disciplinary literacy.

Curriculum and program planning

Assessment and reporting

EAL in Victorian government schools

EAL annual reports – annual reports on the provision of EAL programs in Victorian government schools.

For a brief history of assistance to students from language backgrounds other than English in Victorian government schools (1960 to 2006) please read these resources: