Key Strategy: Collaborative learning

Helpful for all, crucial for your learners speaking EAL

Collaborative learning for EAL

Collaboration is a highly successful approach to teaching for enhancing the language skills of all learners and especially so for those who speak EAL. By utilising well-planned group learning and structured pairing, you can ensure students who speak EAL benefit from the most effective and dynamic learning. 

In this article I will explore the ways in which teachers of linguistically diverse classes can implement simple methods of pairing and group work as a key strategy for optimal learning for all. 

Research shows that pairing students who are at the same stage of learning and then pairing them with those at different stages can greatly enhance their speaking, listening, reading, and writing skills.

As a teacher, you can encourage collaboration by assigning group projects and activities that require communication and teamwork. By thoughtfully pairing or grouping students, you can foster an inclusive and supportive environment of learning where everyone can progress together.

WHY be collaborative

By incorporating collaborative learning experiences into your lesson plans, you can help students develop important social skills that will serve them well beyond the classroom.

While working in groups, students learn to communicate effectively, taking on different roles, and sharing responsibilities for learning outcomes. They also learn to appreciate diverse perspectives and work towards a common goal – all great for teamwork building, confidence and enjoyment of learning. 

Additionally, collaborative learning experiences can help students feel more connected to their peers and increase their engagement in the learning process.

When groupings have been carefully organised by the teacher to ensure a safe and supportive environment for all students to speak, it can also help EAL learners reduce anxiety when communicating in English, offering opportunities to verbally rehearse ideas in a safe context and alongside good models of English. 

Considered pairing of students is a powerful tool in language development in lessons. When students are paired up, they have an opportunity to engage in meaningful conversations, ask questions, and clarify their doubts.

This type of interaction helps to build their confidence in speaking the language and also improves their listening skills. Moreover, pairing students with different linguistic backgrounds and abilities offers an opportunity for cultural exchange and learning.

Students can share their own experiences and learn from each other, which enhances their understanding of the language in a more holistic way.

HOW to have collaborative learning

It is important to note that pairing should be done thoughtfully, taking into account the students' language proficiency and personalities. Pairing students who are at a similar level of language proficiency can help them to build their skills and work together to improve.

On the other hand, pairing a student who is a more fluent English user with a learner who is less proficient can help the latter to learn from the former and gain valuable insights into the language.

We’re all familiar with the Kagan group structures and it’s useful to take a refresher of these and consider adapting them to explicitly meet the needs of your learners.

 There are methods that can help to use collaboration in a classroom setting to work to its most productive. Examples are: Snowball Groups, Jigsaw Groups, Rally Robin, and you can adapt the name of your groups to reflect learner interests too (Unicorns & Dragon groups for example) Speed Dating and Listening Triangles. Look out for these methods adapted onto ready-to-use lesson slides that I will be sharing with you soon!

These are tried, tested and successful ways to get the most collaborative and therefore productive learning from a group lesson. All of them adopt different pairing and grouping methods to enhance the topic and learning experience and its productivity. 

By providing a supportive, inclusive and collaborative environment, you can help EAL learners succeed and thrive in their language development.

Promoting collaboration in the classroom can positively impact student success both academically and socially. 

By promoting collaboration and inclusivity, you can help your students to feel empowered and engaged in their learning.

Book in for a consultation with me here: Chat with Anna to discuss these methods further. I will be sharing the group frameworks on my LinkedIn shortly too so let’s collaborate there!