ESL Program at Shepparton High School is specifically designed to meet the needs of students who have cultural and linguistic needs. Our aim for these students is to enhance their listening, speaking, reading and writing so as to perform confidently in their mainstream classrooms and daily school routines.
Students are either supported by small group classes, a withdrawal system or an arrangement that is made to assist students in maintream classes. The students are grouped flexibly according to individual needs and by the levels and school subjects they are doing. The classroom activities are organised to maximise communicative opportunities and integration of the modes of listening, speaking, reading and writing.
Teachers are trained and have been provided with extra PD to utilise the ESL in The Mainstream Classroom Program and to design learning tasks that are consitent with this program. Students appreciate the extra support they receive and having been scaffolded every possible way that make them comprehend the texts they need to grapple with in order to succeed in their school work and participate in school activities.
Students are also provided with every day life experiences through school camps, excursions and special programs like the cooking and the ESL Careers Program that is designed to allow guest speakers from different professions from the community to talk to the students about their professions. Students are supported and encouraged to exchange information with these guests and gain confidence.
The ESL program also uses information and communication technologies that support students literacy levels by utilising visual and audio files that complement the written texts. The students are provided with lots of grammar and vocabulary exercises that enhance their written and oral skills. They are also encouraged to read from a range of books and reading materials that are interesting and engaging.
