Description

The Course in Initial EAL is a new course for pre-literate students arriving from conflict zones and refugee camps who have experienced different levels of trauma. While this is a diverse group, many arrive in Australia with severely interrupted education and little or no previous education or learning experiences. These pre arrival experiences influence their ability to settle in Australia and apply the skills required to learn a new language. These learners need to develop an identity as a learner and establish learning routines. They need to develop basic decoding and encoding skills and handwriting skills such as copying and hand-eye coordination.