EAL Learners and Reading
Bilingual Books
Bilingual books can help children and young people to access English texts. They also promote bilingualism and mean EAL learners feel both their languages are of equal importance.
Bilingual books can be purchased from a number of sources:
The Importance of EAL Parents and Children Reading Together
Reading with EAL children is crucial for their linguistic, cognitive and emotional development. It strengthens parent-child bonds, enhances literacy skills, and fosters a love for learning. For EAL children, reading in their first language builds a strong linguistic foundation, aiding in the acquisition of their languages and improving overall academic performance. It also maintains cultural connections and boosts confidence.
Our team supports this by providing bilingual leaflets in our induction pack ensuring parents can engage effectively. Additionally, we offer training for primary school staff entitled "Getting EAL Parents and Children Reading Together," emphasising the importance of supporting their child's reading, and equipping them with strategies to foster a positive attitude to reading.
Identity Texts
"Books play an important role as mirrors for children; these stories and characters will affect how they see themselves and the world around them, their motivation to read, and their aspirations to become authors and illustrators of the future"
(Booktrust website, 2019)
Finding books that represent the diversity of families in the UK can be difficult. Book trust have developed a brochure with authors and illustrators from a black or ethnic minority backgrounds.
The Guardian published a list of the 50 best culturally diverse books for children and young people:
There is this book list too, for primary aged children: