2. Workshop contents
Who are we?
Who are they? Defining ‘Anglophone’
Phonics: first steps in reading and writing
Beyond phonics: improving English skills for more advanced students
Ideas for improving general vocabulary
Assessment
A.O.B and common difficulties
3. Who are we?
What is your previous experience of teaching Anglophones? Do you have any ES classes this year?
4. The KES handbook on Anglophones
We loosely follow the English National curriculum. The Collins books provide the framework of
topics to follow but there is plenty of material online and in Bev’s office to supplement your
teaching. Don’t hesitate to ask for guidance and ideas. The most important things to keep in mind
are:
-the skills that the children are meant to develop should form the basis of the NC levels assessment
-the literacy topics pertinent to each year
-keeping the lessons varied in terms of pace and types of activities
-providing a cross-curricular experience (i.e. history, geography, IT or science projects)
7. No two Anglophones are the same
Where have they learnt English before? From parents, spent time in Anglophone country…
Where do they speak English now? Main language at home, only with their cousins…
How fluent are they? Understand everything perfectly, occasional grammatical errors, limited
vocabulary…
8. What are their learning aims?
Improving spoken English….. Becoming a proficient reader…. Improving their writing skills.
Parents are keen for child to be fluent and literate in English but their main language at school is
French – long term aims.
Child will (re-)enter English-speaking education system at some point – limited time frame.
10. Phonics
Structure, order to introduce sounds – pick a system and stick with it
Blending – build up gradually, CVC, CCVC, etc.
Consider pace – can you cover more than one new sound per lesson? A child in the UK will
typically work on 4 sounds per week – unrealistic in one hour!
Assuming they are learning to read French concurrently, will this help or hinder?
11. Resources
Jolly phonics
To supplement
alphablocks videos
Oxford Reading books, e.g. stage 1 books.
Let’s Make It Easy English 4 – 5 (I.H. world)
English Made Easy 5 – 6 (Carol Voderman books) (I.H. world)
Brodie – comprehension, general literacy workbook and spelling book
Games!
13. There’s a lot you can do…
Comprehension of different types of text: newspaper articles, information leaflets…
Specific writing tasks: letters, instructions, persuasive writing, scripts…
Cross curricular activities – e.g. natural disasters project, make a news reports, posters
As well as additional grammar, punctuation – e.g. using speech marks, paragraphs, headings,
brackets… - and improving spelling
Consider students’ (and parents’) main aims when deciding how best to use their time
14. Resources
Collins series – good for comprehension and writing tasks (IH site)
Lets Make it Easy English and English Made Easy – good for grammar worksheets (IH site)
Brodie – comprehension, general literacy workbook, spelling book
Brightsparks (IH site)
Games!
16. Identify problem areas, cover in class
Telling the time, days of the week, months
Specific fields of vocab: baby animals, jobs
Mix and match resources – use your tried and tested ESL resources for introducing new vocabulary
Not just vocab weaknesses, check grammar too – e.g. odd prepositional use, irregular past tense
verbs
17. Help parents to help the students
Other kids – play dates
Read together
TV and films
Games "I Spy", "Bingo" and "Memory" with picture cards will also playfully build vocabulary.
Music and songs
Baby sitter/nanny
19. Varies for different levels
Phonics screening test
Running record of a text – see e.g. with The Snake and the Drake
Comprehension
Timed writing exercise
Vary spelling tests – e.g. give definition of words so Ss have to first recall word and then spell
21. Common difficulties
Very different abilities within the same class of English-speakers – think about what you can do
together (improving vocab) and what they need to do individually
Lack of vocabulary makes starting reading much more challenging (and less enjoyable)
Handwriting and neatness obsession / differences with French script
Worrying about their ideas can hold kids back from writing
