For many families in international schools, English is not the language spoken at home. While this multilingualism is a huge advantage, it also means that children learning English as an Additional Language (EAL), or English as a Second Language (ESL), may need extra support. But how can parents help when they might not feel confident in their own English skills? The good news is that supporting language development at home doesn’t mean replacing a child’s first language—it means enriching their English skills in ways that feel natural and engaging.
The Power of Words: Building a Rich Vocabulary
Research shows that vocabulary knowledge is a key predictor of academic success. Isobel Beck, in Bringing Words to Life, highlights the importance of “robust vocabulary instruction,” which means helping children develop deep and flexible word knowledge. Parents can support this by:
- Reading together: Choose books slightly above your child’s current level and discuss unfamiliar words. Ask, “What do you think this word means?” and encourage them to use it in a sentence. You can also embed synonyms here, different words that have the same meaning, that they may already know to provide a tangible ‘hook’ into the new work and cement it’s place in their memory.
- Playing word games: Games like ‘Odd One Out’ (where children explain why a word doesn’t fit a group) or ‘Word Association’ (where they link words by meaning) develop connections between vocabulary items.
- Using ‘child-friendly’ definitions: Instead of simply translating a word, explain it in an easy-to-understand way. For example, “‘Reluctant’ means you don’t really want to do something, like when you don’t feel like getting out of bed in the morning!” This doesn’t mean patronising your child with simplistic language, in fact the opposite! You are giving them concrete examples of the word through contextually relevant definitions. Using the words in context and providing definitions that they will understand in their own context is a powerful tool. These definitions can also involve translanguaging – linking the new word to their mother tongue where there is a similar word. Here is where the parent has a super power, no one knows your child better than you and understands their frame of reference better. By giving definitions which draw from their unique family experiences and culture will go a long way to support new language development.
Speaking and Listening: Encouraging Confident Communication
Many EAL students have strong reading and writing skills but hesitate when speaking. Parents can create a language-rich home by:
- Encouraging storytelling: Ask children to retell stories in their own words or describe something that happened at school. If they make mistakes, model the correct sentence without directly correcting them. For example, if they say, “He go to shop,” you can reply, “Yes, he went to the shop.”
- Watching English-language TV with subtitles: This helps children hear natural speech patterns while reinforcing word recognition.
- Practising ‘sentence stems’: Give children starter phrases to help them respond in full sentences. Instead of answering “yes” or “no,” they can use “I think that…” or “In my opinion…” to develop fluency.
Literacy at Home: Supporting Reading and Writing Skills
International school curricula often require strong literacy skills. Parents can support literacy development by:
- Creating a reading routine: Even older children benefit from shared reading time. Ask open-ended questions like, “Why do you think the character did that?” to build inference skills.
- Encouraging journaling: A simple diary or reflection book lets children practise writing without pressure. They can write about their day or even respond to prompts like “Describe your dream holiday.”
- Building background knowledge: If your child is learning about Shakespeare, the environment, or historical events at school, talk about these topics in your home language too. Understanding concepts in one language makes it easier to discuss them in English. Let them share their learning and reading around the topics together. Foregrounding or ‘frontloading’ contextually relevant vocabulary will give them a toolbox full of words to use for the same topic. To use the Shakespeare example again, you may explore ‘theatre’ and what is involved in performing.
Actionable Takeaways for Parents
- Read aloud to your child daily, pausing to discuss new words.
- Use everyday conversations to introduce new vocabulary in a natural way.
- Encourage your child to speak in full sentences by modelling responses.
- Watch English-language programs together and discuss what’s happening.
- Support writing at home with fun activities like keeping a journal or writing letters.
- Continue using and celebrating your home language—it strengthens overall language development!
With these strategies, parents can play a crucial role in helping their child develop confidence and fluency in English, while still valuing their linguistic and cultural heritage. Supporting EAL learners isn’t about replacing one language with another—it’s about enriching their world with the power of words.
Awaken English 